The Bellingham Bells defeated the Kamloops NorthPaws 8-1 on Saturday night, backed by their first home runs of the season from Elijah Hainline and Daniel Gernon in the sixth inning.

The Bells’ pitchers combined for nine innings of one-run ball, allowing no earned runs and striking out eight. Cooper Barnum (1-0), who started for the team, gave up just two hits to set the tone early.

Hainline managed two hits throughout the evening, headlined by a home run, to maintain his hot start to the season as the Bells’ leadoff hitter. Left fielder Jared Bujanda got three hits in his return to the top of the Bells lineup, including his second triple of the season.

The NorthPaws scored their only run of the game on an RBI double by first baseman Robin Villeneuve to score left fielder Jared Sucro in the fifth. Starter Reed Interdonato (0-1) took the loss for the Paws, allowing five hits and three runs in his two innings pitched.

The win gave the Bells, 4-3,  sole ownership of top place in the North Division in the WCL, bumping the Paws down to a 5-5 record. Tomorrow’s game at Norbrock Stadium will decide the leader of the division.