Big eighth inning propels Sweets

The Sweets fell behind 2-0 early on Wednesday but battled back to tie the game in the sixth inning and then broke the tie with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a 6-2 victory. Shane Zeile broke the tie with a two-run triple and Chance Kopacz and Ryan Cooper each added RBI hits. It was the first win for the Sweets against Bend this season.

Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The victory on Wednesday is the first for the Sweets over the Elks in five tries this season. Walla Walla will go for the series victory on Thursday.
- Nick Vilter had a hand in each of the first two runs of the game. He put the Sweets on the board in the fourth with a ground ball double play that scored a run from third. Vilter then tied the game in the sixth with a two-out single up the middle.
- Shane Zeile continued to excel for the Sweets in his second game. He came up with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth and ripped a triple into the right-center gap to break the tie. It was his first hit as a Sweet and his first two RBI.
- Spencer O'Neil had a big day as well for the Sweets. He reached base in all four plate appearances with two hits, a walk and a hit by a pitch. O'Neil scored three runs and has now hit safely in five straight games. He's also reached base safely in 10 straight.
- O'Neil leads the team in RBI with 15 and runs scored with 13.
- Ryan Cooper extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single in the seventh. He then came up in the eighth and tripled down the right field line to drive a run.
- Cooper also made an excellent defensive play in the third inning as he robbed Joey Mathews of a home run with a leaping catch at the wall in left field.
- Kyle Kingsley started for the Sweets and lasted six innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two. He earned a no decision.
- Doug Ashby tossed a scoreless seventh as he worked out of a second-and-third jam.
- DJ Smith faced the similar situation in the eighth and worked out of the jam after hitting two batters. It was his first appearance since June 12.
- Ben Ruff struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning.
- The Sweets improved their record to 6-5 at home this season, including non-league games. Against league opponents, the Sweets are 4-4.
- Tyler Roberts will make his fourth start of the summer tonight. He has faced Corvallis twice and Kelowna once. He is 0-2 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts. Roberts has pitched at least five innings in all three of his starts.