Walk Off Win
- Updated: June 4, 2016
Small ball paid off and the Kelowna Falcons walked off the Bellingham Bells by a final score of 5-4 on Saturday night after some heroics from shortstop Lane Lacrone.
Patience was the key in the ninth when the Falcons earned two consecutive walks to lead off the inning. Jace McKinney then tapped a textbook bunt up the third base line, too much for the Bells to handle, loading the bags.
That set the stage for Lacrone, who hit a grounder between first and second, bringing in the runners from second and third to complete the comeback and end it in dramatic fashion.
The Falcons got a good performance from their pitchers Saturday – starter Jordon Ragan went 7 2/3 innings. He was on the mound for all four of the Bells runs, two of which came in second inning as a result of a blistering two-run home run over the right field fence by Bells outfielder Brock Anderson. That was all Ragan was on the hook for though, as the visitors’ next two runs both scored as unearned thanks to infield errors.
Blake McKinney came on in relief of Ragan, his second appearance in as many nights. He was lights out again, going 1 1/3 innings, giving up just one hit. Coach Bryan Donohue was impressed with his arms tonight, and knows the impact that solid pitching will have on tomorrow’s rubber match with the Bells. “We have two guys that haven’t even thrown for us, plus a starter. We have three pitchers that are all one hundred percent fresh, that was huge, getting the win and only having to use two guys, it’s ideal.”
Offense was a total team effort tonight, as all seven of the Falcons’ hits came from different batters. The boys in red were making good contact with the ball all night, only striking out 4 times total as a team in 30 at bats.
With the series now tied up at a game apiece, the Falcons will come into tomorrow’s game riding a bit of a momentum high and try to get above .500 on the season.
Colby Nealy will be on the bump tomorrow for the 6:05 PM first pitch. The 6’5 righty got some work in Friday’s opener, going just 2/3 of an inning, so this will be his second appearance in Falcons’ colours this season.
Story courtesy Matt Inglis – Falcons Media
Photo courtesy of Cary Mellon – UBCO Athletics
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