The Moose Jaw Miller Express and Saskatoon Berries have drawn first blood in their respective Western Canadian Baseball League East Division semifinals, but neither win came easy.
The Express overcame a 9-7 deficit with three runs in the seventh to take a 10-9 win over the Medicine Hat Mavericks, while the Berries scored six of their seven runs in their final two at bats to down the Regina Red Sox 7-3.
As a result, both Moose Jaw and Saskatoon can wrap up their respective semifinals on the road on Saturday night.
Moose Jaw 10, Medicine Hat 9
The Express got off to a great start with a six-run first inning, but the Mavericks responded with eight runs of their own the next frame to take a lead they’d hold until the late stages of the game.
Medicine Hat led 9-7 heading into the bottom of the seventh, where Moose Jaw would put up three runs to go ahead for good. The Express hit four straight singles to start the frame, and a Chris Franks sacrifice fly would bring home Ben Waliczek with the eventual game-winning run.
Jacob Quiles and Nathan Pisio went to work from there, with Quiles finishing off two innings of shutout relief with a scoreless eighth while striking out five of the sixth batters he faced. Pisio saw the tying run get to third base but no further to earn the save.
Westin Walls started for Moose Jaw and allowed nine runs, five earned on 12 hits over six innings to take the no decision.
Every member of the Express line-up had at least one hit and eight of nine starters scored at least one run. Michael Rago led the way by going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, while Garryn Plummer walked three times and crossed the plate twice.
Johnny Vulcano was 3-for-5 with two runs for Medicine Hat, Frankie Giacalone and Eric Calder each knocked in a pair.
Derek Archer started for the Mavericks and left with one out in the first after allowing six runs on four hits. Jackson Miles took the loss after throwing 3 ⅓ innings of relief that included Moose Jaw’s go-ahead inning.
Game 2 of the series is in Medicine Hat on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) with Game 3 back in Moose Jaw on Sunday if necessary (7:05 p.m.).
Saskatoon 7, Regina 4
With the two teams locked in a pitching duel and tied 1-1 through five innings, Regina would take a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, only for Saskatoon to come right back with two runs in the seventh.
That set the stage for the Berries’ big four-run eighth, which saw a three-run home run from Aidan Kilshaw bring home himself, Mason Roell and Josh Henson with the go-ahead and insurance runs.
That was enough to give Wesley Schackleford the win after he came on for the Berries in the seventh and pitched three shutout innings, striking out six. Zach Landreville started for Saskatoon and was outstanding, allowing only three runs on three hits over six innings while striking out 10.
Kaegan Baker had just as solid a start for Regina, allowing three runs on seven hits over 6 ⅓, striking out seven. David Gordon gave up Kilshaw’s round-tripper and took the loss.
Kilshaw finished 2-for-4 with two runs and the three RBI, Nash Nichols went 2-for-3 and crossed the plate twice. Ethan Murdoch also had a pair of hits and an RBI.
Jalen Meyers was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Regina, Ian Montz, Dan Castellanos and Alex Roux scored their runs.
Game 2 is set for Saturday in Regina (6:05 p.m.) and the deciding game of the series will take place on Sunday in Saskatoon if necessary (7:05 p.m.).
