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In game one of three at Nanaimo, the Bellingham Bells lost 6-3 to the Nanaimo NightOwls. Four runs scored in the fourth inning for the NightOwls against Sax Matson in relief. The Bells are now 26-17 overall and 9-7 in the second half of the season, tied for first place in the North Division’s second half standings.

The game began with Nathan Van Beek who made his third start of the summer. Van Beek went three innings in the start and allowed one run off of a hit and a walk. The first run was scored by Nanaimo on a double steal where the throw to second base got away from the defense.

Down 1-0, the Bells answered in the top of the third inning on a bases loaded wild pitch that allowed Conner Smith to score. Jacob Mejia also walked with the bases loaded to double the Bells run total.

Sax Matson took over in the fourth inning leading 2-1 over the NightOwls. Matson walked four batters and gave up three hits while only recording two outs. Matson was taken out for Jack Svinth who retired the first batter he faced in the inning and after four innings the NightOwls led 5-2. 

Svinth had a scoreless fifth inning and with the help of his second and third strikeouts in the outing. For the sixth inning it was Matt Molina who would have a scoreless inning but then be tagged for the sixth run of the game in the seventh inning. 

Now trailing 6-2, the Bells scored one run in the eighth inning off of multiple defensive mishaps by Ryder Florence. Marques Brown had the bottom eighth inning on the mound where he walked three batters but escaped without allowing any runs. There would be no comeback for Bellingham as they went 1-2-3 in the ninth to end the loss 6-3.

On offense the Bells tallied five hits and 10 walks. Gavin Long picked up an impressive 3 for 5 night at the plate. Nate Kirkpatrick and Jacob Mejia were the only other Bells that tallied hits in 1 for 3 nights. Mejia had an RBI and he and Kirkpatrick both had two walks. Danny Witters and Conner Smith both scored runs when they reached via a walk.

The Bells take on the NightOwls tonight at 6:35 p.m. in Nanaimo. Bellingham looks to even the series before the rubber game on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

This game recap is sponsored by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.