BELLINGHAM, Wash. — It’s tough to give up just six hits, and lose.
The Nanaimo NightOwls used a big second inning and strong pitching into the ninth inning to have control for a series road win in Bellingham, only to have an error lead to a string of hits that led the Bells to a 6-5 win in a Sunday matinee.
Bellingham trailed 5-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but the NightOwls could not record an out before the Bells walked it off.
All-star pitcher Adison Mattix was dominant again, giving up one unearned run on one hit, walking two and striking out five in five innings, and Grant Jakobson came in for one spotless inning. Li Sih-te gave up a run in his inning and a third, and the error made Paul Montgomery’s pitching line look messy as he took the loss.
The NightOwls managed just three hits, none for extra bases, and drew four walks. On defence, the NightOwls made two errors, costly ones, and Bellingham made three — one of them aiding the five-run inning Nanaimo had in the second, scoring all those runs with just two hits and three walks.
The NightOwls head to Port Angeles on Monday to face the Lefties in a one-game stop. The next home games at Serauxmen Stadium are Tuesday and Thursday, with an all-local affair pitting the NightOwls against the Nanaimo Caged Athletics Selects, a team gathered for exhibition games using current and former star college players from the mid-island area.
