The Edmonton Riverhawks took game one of tonight’s double header with the Nanaimo NightOwls 7-1, thanks to a productive 10-hit lineup.

The Hawks’ first run was a gift as #54 Sam Kane was walked with the bases loaded in the second, bringing home #26 Russell Young who was hit by a pitch earlier in the 2nd. The two-out rally continued as #36 Jakob Poturnak came to the plate and crushed a double to left-centre scoring #1 Kaden Zarowny, #3 Michael Soper, and Kane.

Another set of two-out runs came across in the 4th, as Zarowny was hit by a pitch to get on base, then stole second and tagged up on a fly to hit third. Kane and Poturnak hit back-to-back doubles off of different NightOwls pitchers, both notching another RBI each.

Not content with a 6-1, lead the Hawks added on in the 6th. #35 Trent Lenihan reached on an E6, and with the Nanaimo shortstop dropping what should have been a lineout, Poturnak sped home while the ball trickled into the outfield.

#14 Tate Dearing pitched a clean game, preventing the NightOwls from scoring in his 5.0 innings of work against five hits. That includes a scary second inning with the bases loaded and one out, that was escaped via a 5-4-3 double play. Dearing struck out three including back to back ꓘs looking in the 5th. Taking over the game in the 6th was #30 Tyler McGowan, seeing his first game action since July 6. The NightOwls scored their first run off McGowan, with a one-out double and single combo. The sidearmer got out of the inning with just the one run allowed. #40 Hayden Morrison finished up the game with an easy 7th only marred by a double up the foul line.

Game 2 didn’t go as smoothly for the Riverhawks, as this time they found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided score. The NightOwls woke up as the sun had set and won 12-1 over the Riverhawks.

The break between games wasn’t long enough for the Hawks’ bats to fully cool off, as back-to-back-to-back singles in the 1st by Kane, Poturnak and #5 Bryce McFeely brought in an early run.

While he had a 1-2-3 1st, #29 Daniel Orfaly got put through the wringer in the 2nd. The NightOwls scored three runs on four hits and two walks. Only making it through 1,1+ frames, Orfaly was replaced by #2 Austin Egan. All seven Nanaimo runs that scored in the 2nd were credited to Orfaly, Egan’s 1.2 innings would be much less eventful, with only two hits allowed. In the 4th #52 Evan WIlde took the mound and tossed a three-up-three-down 4th, but the NightOwls struck again in the 5th for three runs off two walks, a HBP, and a single. Coming in with the bases loaded #52 Jackson Sherran who limited damage to just one additional run in the 5th, but was replaced in the 6th after a single and a walk. #8 Matthew Ridsdale pitched for all three outs in the 6th, but gave up a pair of runs off a double to the wall with loaded bases. Finally, the 7th belonged to #28 Michael Nastro who saw a single and a walk, but didn’t allow any runs.

After the double header the Riverhawks are 25-17 on the season, and 7-8 in the second half. The Hawks sit 2.5 a games back in the overall standings, which keeps them in line for a playoff berth. The last three home games for the Riverhawks this season are this weekend! The Hawks face the Wenatchee AppleSox and have a trio of exciting promotions including the first ever Riverhawks Bobblehead Night on Friday in collaboration with Booster Juice. Go to tickets.gohawks.ca to make it to RE/MAX Field before the summer ends!