Sweets drop opener in Bend

Walla Walla opened up its six-game road trip with a tough 4-3 loss to Bend on Sunday evening. The Sweets trailed 3-0 after three innings but were able to tie the game with three runs over the course of the sixth and seventh innings. Steven Holcomb delivered the big blow for the Elks as he homered to lead off the eighth and break a 3-3 tie.

Here are some notes from around the ballpark:
- Sunday was the first road game for the Sweets this season. They went 13-14 on the road last year.
- Five of the Sweets' seven games this season have been decided by two runs or less. The last four games have all been decided by one run and the Sweets are 2-2 in those games.
- Jarrod Turner produced another strong game at the plate on Sunday, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored. He picked up the Sweets' first hit of the game in the fifth inning and then singled to start the ninth inning. His leadoff walk in the seventh started a two-run Walla Walla rally. He is hitting .450 with a .577 on-base percentage.
- Turner also has a six-game hitting streak entering Monday's afternoon affair with the Elks.
- In fact, Monday's 12:30 p.m. start will be the earliest game the Sweets have played in two years.
- Kyle Kingsley was strong in his second start of the season on Sunday. He struck out five and did not walk a batter in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits and earned a no-decision.
- Alex Bonczyk and Turner have both reached base in all seven WCL games this season.
- Zach Brandon makes his second start of the summer on Monday. The Oregon native gave up two runs on five hits over five innings in his first start against Kitsap. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.