SWIFT CURRENT -- The Weyburn Beavers have had many more downs than ups in Western Canadian Baseball League action this season, but Wednesday night was one of the good ones.
The Beavers took an early lead and rode a stellar pitching performance from Owen McConnell to an 11-0 victory over the 57’s in Swift Current. Other action saw the Regina Red Sox fall 10-8 on the road to the Lethbridge Bulls and the Medicine Hat Mavericks come roll to a 17-6 win over the Miller Express in Moose Jaw.
Weyburn 11, Swift Current 0
McConnell had one of the best starts of the season for the Beavers, scattering six hits over eight innings of work and striking out five to earn his third win of the season.
The Weyburn bats would give him all the offence he needed with a three-spot in the first inning, and they’d steadily chip away at the plate all night, finishing with 14 hits.
Ryan Muizelaar would have a great night for the Beavers himself, hitting a pair of home runs while going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four runs batted in. Brayden Mayencourt also hit a round tripper and ended up 3-for-4 with three RBI. Zach Tanabe also had a pair of hits and scored two runs.
Trigg Mapes was 2-for-3 and the only member of the 57’s with more than one hit.
Ryker Ratcliff got the start for Swift Current and took the loss, giving up seven runs on nine hits over 4 ⅔ innings.
Weyburn improves to 12-33 and are fifth in the East Division, Swift Current falls to 10-34 and are sixth in the East.
Lethbridge 10, Regina 8
The Red Sox fell behind early before putting up four runs in the third inning to make it a 5-4 contest, but the Bulls would keep up the pressure, going ahead 10-3 in the sixth. Regina would get back to within a pair in the eighth and get the tying run to the plate in the final inning before falling short of their comeback.
Carter Claerhout led Lethbridge at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Bernie Socarras drew three walks and scored three runs. Lee Matsuzaki hit his 11th double of the season and knocked in a pair.
Matthew Fox went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs and two RBI for Regina, Brady Bye also knocked in a pair of runs.
Jacob Hagerman was the winning pitcher, allowing four runs on three hits over five innings, striking out seven.
Vittorio Iacobucci took the loss despite turning in a decent relief performance, allowing runs, two earned, on a pair of hits through 3 ⅔ innings of work.
Lethbridge improves to 27-16 and are second in the West Division, Regina falls to 22-20 and remain third in the East.
Medicine Hat 17, Moose Jaw 6
Five runs in the fourth inning and a further seven in the eighth ended up as more than enough offence for the Mavericks as they pounded out 21 hits on the night.
Aaron Vulcano led the Medicine Hat offence, finishing a triple away from the cycle as he went 3-for-5 with a home run, double, three runs and a pair of RBI. Tyler Vanneste also had a solid game, going 4-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI, while Yusei Uzawa was 4-for-6 with three runs. Nate King also crossed the plate three times.
All told, the Mavericks would see seven players hit nine doubles in total.
No Moose Jaw player had more than a single hit, with Ben Waliczek going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI while Andy Rivas scored a pair of runs.
Luis Diaz was the winning pitcher, giving up three runs on four hits over six innings.
Fernando Medina made his first appearance on the mound for Moose Jaw and took the loss, giving up seven runs, six earned on 10 hits over 3 ⅓ innings.
Medicine Hat improves to 27-17 and are second in the East, 10 games back of the Saskatoon Berries. Moose Jaw falls to 20-25 and remain in fourth, 3 ½ games behind Regina.WCBL action on Thursday will see Swift Current at Saskatoon, Medicine Hat at Moose Jaw and Regina at Lethbridge, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. in each contest.
