GRANTS PASS, Ore – The Klamath Falls Falcons (8-2; 5-1) rolled to two wins against the Grants Pass Diggers (2-8, 0-8). Here is how each game unfolded…
GAME 1: Klamath Falls 28, Grants Pass 2
Carson Siems collected five hits, including a double and a triple, as the Falcons put up their most runs in a game this season.
Klamath Falls scored nine runs in the first inning and added eight more in the second. Scoring slowed to two runs in the third, before the Falcons added five in the fourth and four more in the fifth. The Diggers scored runs in the first and fourth innings.
Siems led the 26-hit attack for the Falcons, but was helped by Conner Shively, who extended his hitting streak to eight games, going 3-3 with two RBI. Ian Meyer was 4-4 with two RBI, and Jacoby Tacchini knocked in three runs and had a double. For the Diggers, Jayr Dominguez was the only player with multiple hits, going 2-3 with a pair of singles.
Hayden Poore pitched a complete game for the Falcons, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and two runs en route to his second win of the season. The losing pitcher was Grants Pass’ Blake Zamora, who only pitched the first 0.2 innings, allowing seven hits and nine runs (two earned). The Diggers committed five errors in the ballgame, leading to 13 unearned runs for the Falcons.
This was the best offensive showing of the season for the Falcons aside from the season-high 28 runs scored. The Falcons also marked new season highs for hits (26), at-bats (42), and RBI (20). Siems surpassed the previous mark for total bases in a game (8), and along with Ian Meyer, matched the season high for runs scored (4), joining Chase Barrett from June 12th.
GAME 2: Klamath Falls 10, Grants Pass 7
Grants Pass brought themselves within a run in the fourth inning, but the Falcons held on to win the nightcap at Agnew Lytle Field.
The Falcons opened the game with a double from Max Price, who later scored the first run when Jacoby Tacchini doubled. Later, Tacchini would score on a double from P.J. Safford. The Diggers would respond with a single run in the bottom of the inning when Tyler Meek scored on a sacrifice fly from Cruz Carnes.
Klamath Falls again rallied for a pair of runs in the second inning off back-to-back hits from Price and Ryan Douglas. But the Diggers showed fight, adding two runs in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back hits from Meek and Jayr Dominguez. The Falcons scored two more runs in each the third and fourth innings, taking an 8-3 lead to the bottom of the fourth.
Grants Pass responded in the bottom of the fourth inning when, after Kannon Clark was hit by a pitch, Meek singled and Dominguez wrapped a double, scoring a run. Blake Zamora collected an RBI single, and then Carnes added another sacrifice fly. The Diggers scored one more run in the frame off a two-out single from Niven Diatte, scoring Zamora.
Now leading by a single run, the Falcons began the fifth inning with a Carson Siems double, followed later in the inning by a single from Douglas. Douglas later scored, and the 10-7 lead would hold for Klamath Falls.
The winning pitcher was Douglas, who tossed the middle 2.0 innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. The loss was Easton Schmidt’s, who worked 3.0 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned). Safford earned his second save of the summer, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings and punching out six batters.
Offensively, Douglas was 2-4 with two RBI, and Price was 2-4 with two doubles. Colby Medieros added two RBI on a 1-2 day, and Conner Shively added another game to his hitting streak (9). As a team, the Falcons matched their game-high total for doubles with six two-baggers in the contest. For the Diggers, Meek was 2-2 with an RBI, Dominguez was 2-3 with two RBI, and Niven Diatte was 3-4 with an RBI.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Grants Pass is off until Saturday when they have an area doubleheader against the North Medford Mavericks. The Falcons also have an area doubleheader in Jackson County, taking on the South Medford Colts on Saturday at Harry & David Field. First pitch is set for noon with live video online at mybasin.com.