Box Score

BELLINGHAM — The Bellingham Bells dropped their first game of three against the Edmonton Riverhawks after a ninth inning score on a wild pitch by Edmonton on Monday, Aug. 3 at Joe Martin Field. The loss doesn’t affect the Bells postseason outlook, but helped the Riverhawks improve their odds at a playoff berth.

The Riverhawks got their first run of the game against Bellingham’s starter during the third inning. Kaden Nicholls allowed one run in the third on a pair of hits and exited following the third with four hits and no walks allowed for the lone run.

Bellingham tied the game in the bottom of the third on a bases-loaded knock by Noah Cassie. The Bells tried to score two runs on the play, but the go-ahead run was thrown out at the plate and it was tied 1-1 after three.

Ryder Dingsdale entered in relief for the fourth inning and allowed three runs in the inning on three hits and two walks. Matt Churchill’s sixth home run of the season came as a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth and Edmonton led 4-3 heading into the fifth.

Adam Jay surrendered a leadoff hit in the fifth, but retired the next three batters. Bo Shinkle scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game.

Jameson Connolly made his home debut pitching in the sixth. The right-handed hurler had a perfect sixth and seventh inning before allowing his first hit in the eighth. He carried the 4-4 tie into the ninth, but allowed two baserunners to begin the final frame and the Riverhawks scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Bo Shinkle hit a single off the Edmonton shortstop’s glove with two outs in the ninth to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Noah Cassie struck out looking on an outside fastball to end the game with the tying run at second base.

Churchill led the Bells with his two-run home run. Shinkle was the only Bell with multiple hits as he went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Bellingham had nine hits on offense in the loss.

The Riverhawks and Bells will face off tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. Bellingham looks to earn its first win over Edmonton as the Bells are 0-4 against the Riverhawks.