PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles’ Ethan Flodstrom’s RBI single to left-center earned the Lefties a 5-4 walk-off win over Bend on a rain-soaked night at Civic Field on Wednesday.
The left-handed Flodstrom took the first pitch he saw the opposite way with two outs in the ninth inning to score Kemet Brown and cap a wild ninth inning that saw both teams produce four-run rallies.
Golden Tate’s two-run double two batters previous tied the game at 4-4 and set up Flodstrom’s two-out heroics.
Scoreless until the eighth inning, Brown put Port Angeles on top 1-0 when he singled with two outs, advanced on Golden Tate’s walk, stole third and came home on a balk by Bend pitcher Grant Faris.
Bend rallied in its last turn at bat, scoring four runs, highlighted by a two-run double by Nick Schnoop.
But Port Angeles found a way. Pinch hitter B.Y. Choi got things going with a single and was subbed out for pinch runner Riley Parker.
Colin Curry’s single put two aboard, and after a Weston Peninger walk and an infield fly out, Brown drove in Parker to cut the lead to 4-2 and load the bases for Tate.
Tate followed up with a double over the head of the Bend first baseman and down the line into deep right field to bring home a pair and knot the score and set up Flodstrom’s walk-off win.
Tate went 1-for-3 with a walk and was hit by a pitch to bring his average to .429. He also caught both chances in center field.
Starting pitching was strong for both teams.
Lefties starter John Pfeffer produced his third straight strong outing, going six innings, allowing no runs while scattering five hits and striking out six.
The San Bernadino Valley College prospect has a 1.20 ERA through 15 innings with 20 strikeouts, six walks and 10 hits allowed.
Bend right-hander Connor Nipp allowed one run on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in his 7 2/3 innings on the hill.
With the series win in hand, Port Angeles (7-6) opens a three-game home set with Walla Walla tonight at 6:35 p.m.
Port Angeles 5, Bend Elks 4
Bend 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 — 4 8 0
PAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 — 5 7 0
WP: Isaly. LP: Averett.
Pitching
Bend — Nipp 7.2IP, 2H, R, 2BB, 7K; Faris 0IP, 2BB; Averett IP, 5H, 4R, BB.
Port Angeles — Pfeffer 6IP, 5H, 6K; Maldonado 2.1IP, 3H, 3R, 2BB, 2K; Fukuda 0.1 IP, R, 2BB; Isaly 0.1IP, K.
Hitting
Bend — Schnopp 2-4, 2B, R, 2RBI; Takalo 1-3, BB, RBI; Cooney 2-5.
Port Angeles — Brown 2-4, 2R, RBI; Tate 1-3, BB, 2RBI; Flaugher 1-4, RBI; Choi 1-1
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
