Center fielder and catcher Austin Pinorini led the scoring with two solo home runs, his first two home run game of his career.
“All the guys are hyped up, we’re ready to make a playoff push,” Pinorini said. “All we can do is do our part and win these next two games.”
The AppleSox struck first, but the Bells immediately scored the next run in the bottom of the second on a Kyle Stowers opposite field home run that tied the game at one. The home run was the Stanford sophomore’s seventh home run of the season.
Bellingham put up another solo home run off the bat of Pinorini, who gave the Bells their first lead of the game. Next time the AppleSox scored, in the top of the sixth, the Bells responded again immediately.
Outfielder Brock Anderson hit a double before catcher Ryan Mendoza drove one in the gap to bring Anderson around. Mendoza moved to third and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Pinorini, who got his second RBI of the night.
Lefty Tanner West of Arizona State University entered the game in the top of the seventh inheriting a sticky situation. With two runners on and one out, he was tasked with preserving a 4-3 lead. He proceeded to strike out the next two batters, the final one on a blistering 90 mph fastball.
Anderson hit his second double of the night, this time scoring two runs as he scored Chase Illig and Max Flower. The shot was laced into the right-field corner, and ran the score up to 6-3.
Pinorini finished off the scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he slammed another home run to right field to make it 7-3.
Holden Powell (4-3) started for the Bells and went five strong innings, giving up just one run on four hits, striking out four.
“[Powell]’s always been lights-out for us, he goes out there and we know we’re going to get a quality start from him the majority of the time,” Pinorini said.
Cooper Misic (3-1) earned the win, as he gave up just one unearned run. Josh Zavisubin came in to pitch the ninth inning, sending down the AppleSox 1-2-3.
The Bells continue to attempt to keep their playoff chances alive tomorrow evening at 6:35 p.m. as they battle the Wenatchee AppleSox in the final series of the season.
