RIDGEFIELD — The Walla Walla Sweets pounded out a whopping 21 hits on the Ridgefield Raptors en route a 10-1 win Wednesday at Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.
Ten Sweets batters saw the plate during a five-run fourth inning, which included RBI singles from Logan Meyer, Puukani De Sa and Andrew Graham, to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
Ridgefield starting pitcher Nate Wenzel was charged with the loss after giving up seven hits and five runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings on the mound.
Walla Walla (18-32) scored two runs in the third inning after loading the bases with singles from Griffin Bushnell and Leo Rivera, plus a fielding error by Ridgefield second baseman Jackson Nicklaus.
Vicente Feliciano’s RBI on a 4-6-3 double play scored the Sweets’ first run, before Aidan Espinoza followed with an RBI single. Following the Sweets’ five-spot in the fourth, they held a commanding 7-0 lead.
Graham (4-for-5, two RBI) put together his second straight four-hit game for Walla Walla, while Espinoza, Meyer and Griffin Bushnell each had three hits.
Ridgefield (32-18) avoided a shutout with a sixth-inning Jack Salmon sacrifice fly to score Nicklaus. Walla Walla starting pitcher Zachary Hangas (4-2) tossed seven innings with four strikeouts, two walks, six hits and one earned run allowed.
Henry Muench led the Raptors with a 2-for-4 effort, marking his third straight multi-hit game since joining the team last week.
With the series tied at 1-1, Ridgefield and Walla Walla will play the series finale on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. As the Raptors’ final home game of the regular season, Thursday is also “Fan Appreciation Night” at the RORC.
However, Ridgefield is guaranteed at least one more home game this season when it hosts game two of a best-of-three West Coast League Divisional round playoff series on Wednesday, Aug. 9. If necessary, the Raptors would also host game three Aug. 10.
BOXSCORE: Walla Walla 10, Ridgefield 1
