Falcons split final twinbill with NightOwls
The Kelowna Falcons are done playing the Nanaimo NightOwls for the season after the two West Coast League baseball teams split a doubleheader in Kelowna on Saturday.
The visitors took the opening game 6-3, but the Falcons rebounded for a 12-5 win in the nightcap.
In the first game the Falcons held a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth inning with starter Jasper Nelson cruising along. At that point Nelson had given up the run and just three hits, however things changed in a hurry.
After retiring the first batter in the top of the sixth, Nelson hit the next two with consecutive pitches, followed by a weak infield single to load the bases.
A fielder’s choice would tie the game, before a two-run single by the NightOwls designated hitter gave the visitors their first lead of the game.
The next inning, they added two more runs courtesy of a two-run home run and would win the game 6-3.
The Falcons tallied seven hits in the game and saw a pair of RBIs from Konnor Palmeira and one by Damien Stone.
In the nightcap, the NightOwls scored twice in the first inning to jump out in front off starter Sean Fekete.
The Falcons bats came alive in the bottom half as they tied the game with Palmeira collecting another RBI. They added two more in the next inning thanks to Jake Steel’s first homer of the season scoring Kam Edwards ahead of him.
In the fourth the Falcons offence exploded, sending 12 batters to the plate scoring seven runs on seven hits. No hit was louder than a three-run homer from CJ Richmond, his third of the summer. The inning saw three doubles, including one off the bat of Luke Solis that drove in two more runs.
Fekete tallied his second win of the summer as he threw five innings, striking out four and scattering four hits.
The Falcons (7-9) are now on a six-game road trip in Washington state to take on the Wenatchee Applesox (8-12) and Walla Walla Sweets (8-9) respectively.
The club returns to Elks Stadium July 5 when they host the Applesox.