Sweets get off schneid, 9-2

Walla Walla broke its seven-game losing streak on Saturday behind a six-run first inning. The Sweets defeated the Portland Lobos, 9-2.

Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- Saturday's game was the first at home for the Sweets in over a week. They evened their record at 4-4 in home games this season.
- The Sweets are also now 1-1 against non-league opponents with four games remaining.
- The six-run first inning was the biggest inning the Sweets have had this season. They scored the six runs on four hits. Their previous mark was five, set in the seventh inning against Bend.
- The Sweets welcomed three new faces to the ballpark on Saturday and two helped immediately. Matt Imhof (Cal Poly) started and went 4.2 innings, striking out five and issuing just one walk. He allowed two runs on seven hits.
- Nick Vilter also made his debut yesterday and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the second spot in the lineup.
- The third new face was left-hander Hunter Virant. He did not pitch yesterday but could make his debut this evening.
- The Sweets will also welcoming two more players today as UC Irvine teammates Kris Paulino and Ryan Cooper arrive in town this afternoon.
- Brett Jacobs returned from summer school yesterday and picked up where he left off at the plate. He had four hits, drove in a run and scored a run in the victory. In his last game before leaving, Jacobs collected three doubles. He is 8-for-13 on the season.
- Chance Kopacz had his best game of the summer on Saturday, collecting three hits, three RBI and three runs scored. He capped the six-run first with a three-run home run, his first of the summer.
- The Sweets bullpen was particularly effective last night as Joe Arlt, J.J. Robinson and Ben Ruff combined to toss 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. Arlt struck out four in 2.1 innings and Robinson and Ruff each tossed a scoreless frame. It was the first appearances of the summer for Robinson and Ruff.
- Zach Brandon will make his third start of the summer tonight. He has struck out a team-high 11 batters this summer and walked only two. He is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA.
- Following tonight's game the Sweets will enjoy an off-day on Monday. They will then begin a seven-game road trip in Kelowna on Tuesday. They play the Falcons four times before finishing the trip with a three-game series in Kitsap.