By Cody Schmidt

An unfortunate end to the series, as the Bellingham Bells took all three games against the Edmonton Riverhawks. The Hawks captured a two-run lead in the 5th after #10 Jonny McGill, #28 Mark Ossanna, and #43 Heath Hachkowski combined to load the bases. Left fielder #15 Daniel Calabrese knocked a rolling single past the Bells' third baseman, scoring both McGill and Ossanna. Those would be the only runs for the Riverhawks, despite coming close again in the 9th.

The loss also wastes a gem of a start from second year Riverhawk #45 KJ Ward. In his first start of the season KJ controlled 6.0 shutout innings on the mound, allowing only three hits, and striking out six. An improvement from KJ's last time facing the Bells where he allowed five runs over 5.1 innings, the strong defensive start was squandered by the Hawks inability to get back ahead.

Reliever #18 Riley Barrett was on the mound in the 7th when the Bells struck back, where a single and a runner from an error were both pushed into scoring position by a groundout, then sent home via a bloop single. Barrett would get into trouble again in the 8th, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a two-out walk, but he escaped that jam before giving up the game in the 9th off a single-error-single Bells rally. Barrett pitched 2.1 innings, allowed seven hits, and was tagged with the loss.

The Riverhawks were almost able to bounce back in the 9th inning, as #36 Jakob Poturnak led off the final inning with a ringing double to the right field corner. The Hawks would strand Poturnak on third as well McGill who walked to end up on first, after the 15th strikeout of the game by Edmonton batters ended the inning.

Strikeouts have continued to be an early plague for the Riverhawks this season, as they now lead the league in batter Ks after three games with 34. Combined with the fewest runs in the WCL and the lowest team OBP, a picture of the Riverhawks’ early struggles begins to form.

The team has an off day tomorrow before making their way to Ridgefield, to take on the Raptors in a three game midweek set. It’s the middle series of a nine game road trip to start the season, before the team makes it back to Edmonton for a June 13 home opener.

Want to come to the first game of the season at RE/MAX Field? Tickets for the whole season are on sale now, get yours today!

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