Friday night the Falcons opened a three-game weekend series with the Port Angeles Lefties at Elks Stadium with both teams looking to snap a losing skid. 

They combined for an impressive 27 hits, with the Lefties outlasting the Falcons 9-7 to take game one of the series.

The visitors opened the scoring in the top of the second off starter Mark Rogers, then added three more in the top of the fourth.  The Falcons finally got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth when Matthew Pena blasted his fourth homer of the season, a solo shot to cut the lead to 4-1.

In the sixth, the Lefties got that run back before the Falcons offence came alive in the bottom of the inning to score four times.  With one away Rees Kozar singled then promptly stole second getting himself into scoring position.  The next batter was Pena who worked the count full before smashing a double to score Kozar.  The Falcons then loaded the bases for Ty Peters who walked to force home Pana. After a pitching change Boogie McNeal deliver a timely two-run single to score Talon Tucker and Xander Sielken to tie the score.

The comeback didn’t seem to phase the Lefties because they scored two runs in the top of the seventh to retake the lead which didn’t last long as the Falcons mounted another comeback, this time in the bottom of the eighth.  Peters led off the inning with a single then moved over to third on a single off the bat of McNeal.  With runners at the corners, Druw Frost popped out but a throwing error allowed Peters to score and McNeal to advanced to third.  With the tying runner 90 feet, Nolan Eberwein tripled to push across the tying run. 

In the ninth the Falcons pitching staff couldn’t hold down the Lefties and they scored two more runs off Eddie Dolansky and took the lead again.  This time however, the Falcons bid for a comeback fell short and they dropped their third straight game.

Offensively the Falcons combined to blast 12 hits, two of them by Pena, both extra base hits.

Saturday night the Falcons (5-8) and Lefties (4-9) meet again at Elks Stadium at 6:35pm for game two of the weekend series. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate an hour before opening pitch.

Photo courtesy of Tami Quan Photography