Longball Helps Riverhawks Win Opener in Nanaimo

2026-06-05

A big offensive night from Easton Andrews starts the series strong

By Larry Read

NANAIMO, BC—The Edmonton Riverhawks continued their inaugural West Coast League road trip of 2026 at Serauxmen Stadium. They moved up Vancouver Island and hammered the host Nanaimo NightOwls 16-9 on Friday. The NightOwls entered the game atop of the North Division standings with a 4-2 record and had swept the Kelowna Falcons earlier this week. The Riverhawks were 2-3 after dropping two of three to the HarbourCats in Victoria. Edmonton scored 16 runs on 15 hits and had one error. Nanaimo had 9 runs on 10 hits and one error.

The Hawks’ #51 Easton Andrews finished the contest with four doubles. The first baseman notched his second homer of the year as he took the Nanaimo starter over the wall in the top of the 1st inning. It was a three-run homer as he plated #32 Jason Green and #13 Jason Fox. Those set his RBI total to 13, which puts Andrews into the WCL lead.

The NightOwls were quick to close the deficit in the bottom of the first. #23 Ethan Reynolds doubled up the middle to score #7 Aiden Nykoluk. That was followed by an RBI sacrifice to centerfield by #28 Jacob Hayes which brought #3 Talan Zenk in from third base. Nanaimo tied it at three when #17 Davis Downer ground out to the third baseman which allowed Reynolds to score. Those three runs coming off Edmonton Starter #38 David Sheppard. Sheppard was the winning pitcher in this one, going five innings throwing a two hitter with two walks and six strikeouts. Those three runs he surrendered in the first were the only ones he gave up in the contest.

Edmonton regained the lead in the top of the 2nd thanks to more dingers. Leadoff man #35 Louis Dion smacked the ball to right-centre field leaving the yard to make the score 4-3. On Andrews’ next plate appearance, the Fort Worth, Texas native blasted the ball to straightaway centre. It was his second three run homer of the night as he cashed in Fox and #41 Kotaro Wakui. Nanaimo’s Morrison was yanked after the 2nd inning, giving up seven runs on six hits with two strike outs and two walks. He was the losing pitcher in this contest.

In the fourth inning, the Riverhawks load the bases twice off NightOwls reliever #10 Jakin Rhone. The first time, Andrews stroked a two-run double which brought in #20 Oliver Clements and Wakui who were both hit by pitches to start the inning. Andrews would later score on an RBI double off the bat of #37 Connor Cavnar. The Riverhawks tacked on another in the 5th: Fox singled up the middle off NightOwls reliever #30 Jalan Patrik to score Clements making it 11-3.

The 6th inning saw Edmonton score four more times. Three of the runs came on a home run by #1 Shiryu Sato. He brought in Cavnar and #36 Mitchell Middlemiss. The other run resulted when Wakui doubled to left center to score Clements. Nanaimo added a run in the 6, and two more in the 7th. In the 8th, Sato led off with a stand-up triple and scored when Clements chopped the ball over the first baseman for an RBI double. Sato wound up 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, Fox was 2-for-2 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, while Wakui went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.

The NightOwls staged a late rally in the bottom of the 9th as they scored three runs off reliever #59 Owen Coombs to cut the margin to seven runs (16-9). Coombs pitched four innings, giving up six runs on eight hits, with two strike outs and a walk.

Riverhawks head coach Jake Lanferman says that even though this game wasn’t in doubt, they have a lot of respect for Nanaimo. “They are always chippy and play hard. We are going to have to do the little things right, have a better approach at the plate and play gritty baseball if we want to win the series.”

Lanferman says the team has done a great job of bonding on their first road swing of the year. “We are getting to know each other better and understand our coaching staff’s expectations. I believe we will compete the rest of the weekend and finish strong coming home.”

When asked about whether the priority this early in the season is concentrating on his own club rather than the opposition, the Riverhawks skipper stated. “The focus is trying to understand what situations we can put the players in to best succeed. Whether that’s how the batting order is created, what order we’re using our pitchers or what defensive positions the guys are playing. That is the challenge and we are continuing to learn the team in the early stages of the season.”

The weekend series continues Saturday at 7:35 PM MDT. The Riverhawks will send Sam Coxen to the mound. You can watch all the weekend games free on West Coast League TV: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

Edmonton returns to RE/MAX Field to start a six game home stand with three games against the Victoria HarbourCats. Opening game is Tuesday, June 9th with a 7:05 PM MDT opening pitch.