BEND, Ore. — The Port Angeles Lefties got their best pitching performances of the year and another big game from red-hot Roberto Nunez to win their first game of the year 7-1 Tuesday over the Bend Elks.
The duo of Jack O’Brien (Hawaii Pacific) and Brock Mayer (Chaffey College) combined to allow just three singles, one walk and one earned run. Nunez (Embry-Riddle) belted a three-run home run in the third inning to help open up a big lead.
Nunez is batting .429 on the season so far (6-for-14) with five RBIs in five games. Tuesday’s home run was his first of the year. In addition to Nunez’ bomb, Kamden Koester (Neosho County CC) went 4-for-5 with a double, stolen base and a two-run single in the ninth inning to pad the Lefties’ lead. Koester upped his average to .556 (5-for-9).
O’Brien went seven innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He allowed one run and struck out three to collect the victory. Mayer pitched two shutout innings to finish the game, allowing one hit.
The Lefties finished with 12 hits. Jacob Pipercic (St. Elizabeth University) was 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. Owen Allsup (West Texas A&M) had a double.
The Lefties wrapped up their season-opening Oregon road trip with a game Wednesday night against Bend. Results of that game were after press deadline.
The Lefties (1-4) return to Port Angeles for their home opener at 6:35 p.m. Friday at Civic Field against the Springfield Drifters. It will be the Drifters’ first-ever game in Port Angeles.
Lefties games, as well as other teams’ games, are being broadcast at the West Coast League Live website at www.wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv. People must sign up to watch games, but it is free.
Port Angeles 7, Bend 1
PA 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 — 7 12 1
Bend 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 3 0
WP: O’Brien LP: Ritter
Pitching
PA — O’Brien 7 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 3 K; Mayer 2 IP, H.
Bend — Ritter 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, BB, K; Blanchard 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K; Takalo 2 IP, H, BB, K; Valdez IP, 3 K; Krupp IP 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K.
Hitting
PA — Koester 4-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB; Nunez 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBIs, BB; Pipercic 2-4, R, RBI, BB; Allsup 1-4, 2B; Kim 1-4, R, SB; Young 1-3, R.
Bend — Watanabe 1-4, Christiansen 1-4, Terry 1-3, RBI.
