Box Score

BELLINGHAM — Bryce Johnson delivered a two-RBI walk-off single in the Bellingham Bells 11-10 win over the Nanaimo NightOwls as he drove in two runs to cap a seven-run ninth inning. Bellingham rallied after entering the final frame down 10-4 and evened the series against Nanaimo on Wednesday, June 10 at Joe Martin Field.

The wild game began with a Bells run in the first inning where Ty Rusko drove in Bo Shinkle on a sacrifice fly. Bellingham’s starter Talon McGrorty pitched the first three innings scoreless, but surrendered two runs in the fourth inning.

Tyler Peshke singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and got the Bells back in front, 3-2. Cal Young pitched the fifth inning and allowed one earned run and three unearned runs to exit the inning down 6-3.

Noah Cassie plated a run on a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning, but the NightOwls responded with a two-run eighth inning against Bellingham’s relievers Thrasher Steed and Everett Swaim. Nanaimo added two runs onto their lead in the ninth and held a 10-4 lead entering the bottom of the inning.

Bryce Johnson singled to start the inning and scored on a two-run home run by Dillon Moss. Peshke walked and Aspen Alexander singled. Shinkle drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, which was the second out in the inning, and made it 10-7. Rusko drew a walk and Matt Churchill was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases.

Jake Lyall scored two runs on a single up the middle and Bellingham trailed 10-9 with runners on first and second base. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and Tristan Schaefer pinch ran for Lyall as the winning run on second base.

Bryce Johnson fell behind in the count and was down to his final strike. He shot a base hit the opposite way to right field. Churchill scored and Schaefer hustled from second base to slide home ahead of the throw to the plate to walk it off for Bellingham.

Johnson was 3-for-6 at the plate with a double, two runs and two RBI. Moss went 2-for-4 with his two-run home run. Cassie had a pair of hits with an RBI. Peshke drew two walks and had a two-RBI single. Alexander had a pair of hits as Bellingham collected 13 hits as a team.

Swaim earned the win on the mound in two innings of relief. Bellingham now looks to claim a series win over the NightOwls with a rubber game tomorrow, June 11, starting at 6:35 p.m. The Bells continue their home stand with three games against the Portland Pickles starting Friday at 4:35 p.m.

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