PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles spotted Nanaimo a five-run lead in a Fourth of July contest at Civic Field on Thursday and, despite loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth, fell 5-2 to split the short two-game series.
The NightOwls figured out Lefties starter Brock Mayer early, sending him packing after allowing six hits and three runs, two earned, in three innings on the hill. Mayer’s ERA grew to 3.76 with the short effort.
Jeremy Giesegh got the Lefties on the scoreboard with two outs in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double that scored Colin Spears. Spears had reached base with a two-out walk followed by Zach Blair getting hit by a pitch.
A hit batter also led to the other Port Angeles run in the bottom of the eighth.
Ethan Kodama was plunked by a pitch to open the frame, moved to third base on Roberto Nunez’s double and scored on Jason Leon’s fielder’s choice.
An attempt at a two-out rally started on a Travis Helm base hit.
Giesegh followed with a walk to chase NightOwls pitcher Kai Hanasaki and Kodama loaded the bases with a single.
Unfortunately for a home side looking for an Independence Day win, Nunez flied out on the first pitch of his at-bat to end the contest.
Port Angeles (6-20) continues its series with Bellingham tonight at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Nanaimo 5, Port Angeles 2
Nanaimo 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 — 5 9 0
Port Angeles 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 — 2 7 2
WP: Orona LP: Mayer SV: Jakobson
Pitching
Nanaimo — Sih-te 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K; Orona 2 IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K; Nonomiya 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K; Ahmed IP, H, ER; Hanasaki 0.2 IP, H, BB, K; Jakobson 0.1 IP, H.
Port Angeles — Mayer 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 K; Stuart 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, K; Anderson IP, BB, 2 K; Joyce IP; Riggs IP, K; Schumann IP.
Hitting
Nanaimo — Noonan 3-4, 3 R; Easter 3-4, RBI; He-Chieh 2-4, 2 R.
Port Angeles — Kodama 2-4, R; Giesegh 1-4, BB, 2B, R, RBI; Nunez 1-5, 2B; Leon 1-4, RBI.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.
