Back-to-back home runs from Cole Cummings and Marvcus Guarin in the 8th inning weren’t enough as the Falcons dropped the series opener to the Port Angeles Lefties by a 4-3 score on Tuesday night at Elks Stadium.
Port Angeles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the top half of the 1st inning and jumped ahead by a 1-0 score courtesy of an RBI single off the bat of Evan Hurn on a base hit to right field off of Falcons starter Matt Voelzke.
There was no shortage of base runners in the game for the Falcons, especially early on. Kelowna had runners on first and second before pushing runners on the corners in the first two innings but grounded into double plays to bring each of the frames to a close.
Lefties starter Dwayne Angebrandt was able to work his way around some tough jams and helped his team keep their lead before Port Angeles extended their lead in the 4th inning.
With two on and one out, a ball hit to James Shimashita at first base before he airmailed his throw to second base as it crept into the outfield and scored a run from second base that gave the Lefties a 2-0 lead in the 4th.
A fielder’s choice RBI from Ian Fitzgerald extended the Lefties advantage to 3-0 and saw an end to Voelzke’s day after going four innings, giving up one earned run and striking out five batters.
Kelowna fell victim to another double play to conclude their half of the 4th inning after a James Shimashita double to begin the inning. After an out, Brett Tressen flew a ball into left field that Ethan Groff caught and threw Shimashita out at third trying to tag up and send the Lefties into the 5th with a 3-0 advantage.
Port Angeles brought their lead to four runs in the 6th inning of play after loading the bases with no one out. A sacrifice fly would be all the Lefties could muster from Gavin Rork would push Port Angeles ahead 4-0 as Lefties starter Angebrandt continued his strong start, going through seven innings of scoreless baseball.
Michael Musselwhite came on to relieve Angebrandt and the Falcons began their comeback against the Lefties bullpen. After Brad Norton reached on a third strike that made its way to the backstop, Cole Cummings drove a ball out to right field for a two-run home run and his second homer of the season and cut the deficit in half at 4-2.
Marvcus Guarin was next to the plate and sent a ball over the left field fence for his second home run of the season and just like that, the Falcons cut the Lefties lead to a run in the 8th inning at 4-3.
Ian Turner finished off his solid effort in relief as he threw in five innings allowing just a run in that span and gave the Falcons a chance in the bottom of the 9th inning trailing by a run.
Jack Schlotman, who came on for Musselwhite in the 8th inning, came back for the 9th to complete the save for the Lefties and help Port Angeles to a 4-3 victory.
The Falcons (6-10/16-26) take on the Lefties (9-7/19-23) in the second game of their three-game series at Elks Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM with tickets available at the Falcons website as well as at the gate ahead of the opening pitch of the ballgame.
