MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express will need a win at home on Friday night to stay alive in the Western Canadian Baseball League championship final.
The Okotoks Dawgs scored six runs in the second inning and held off a Miller Express comeback on their way to taking a 7-4 victory in the best-of-three series Thursday in Okotoks.
The win gives Okotoks a chance to claim the WCBL title on Friday when Game 2 of the best-of-three series takes place at Ross Wells Park.
It was a tough start for Moose Jaw, as the Dawgs sent 11 batters to the plate in their big inning, taking advantage of three hits, three walks and an error to take their 6-0 lead. Aidan Rose had the big hit in the frame with a two-run double, with all three of Okotoks hits in the inning going for extra bases.
While it looked at that point that Okotoks might be in for a romp, the Express got right back into the game with four runs of their own the very next inning.
Austin Gurney knocked home Bobby Pokorney with a base hit to get things started, and one batter later, Nate Menisk would clear the bases with a double, scoring Gurney and Robert Estrada to make it a 6-3 game. Mensik himself then scored on a double by Ryan Gouldin, and all of a sudden Moose Jaw was right back in it.
For all the early offence, the rest of the night turned into a pitching duel.
Cameron Dunn took over on the mound for the Express in the second inning and ended up going 4 鈪�, allowing a single run in the seventh inning while scattering three hits, striking out two and walking five. Matt Vasquez then pitched the final 1 鈪�, holding the Dawgs hitless the rest of the way.
As well as things went for Moose Jaw’s bullpen after the second, Okotoks’ relievers were even more effective. Aaron Hammer took over in the third inning and gave up five hits but no runs over 2 鈪� before Zane Morrison, Gavin Wuschke and Cade Herman combined to limit the Express to a single hit heading into the ninth.
Moose Jaw made things interesting by getting the tying run to the plate in the final inning, but Ashton Luera would escape the frame to earn the save.
Through it all, Moose Jaw did have their chances, getting runners in scoring position in all but three innings and cranking out 13 hits on the night.
Mensik capped his night with a 3-for-5 showing that included his run and two RBI in the third, while Pokorney was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gouldin and Nate Houston each added a pair of base hits.
Rose was 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI to lead Okotoks’ offence.
Garrett Maloney started for the Dawgs and gave up four runs on six hits over 2 鈪� to earn the win.
Takeo Cookson was the losing pitcher, allowing five runs, three earned, on two hits in the second inning after tossing a scoreless first. Drew Sorrentino allowed a run while getting two outs in the second before Dunn took over.
Moose Jaw will now look to send the series back to Okotoks on Friday night, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
