MEDFORD, Ore. – Grants Pass broke a 4-4 tie with a 4-run sixth inning rally, as the Nuggets handed the Klamath Falls Falcons their sixth-straight loss, a 9-4 decision in the final game of the Coach K Classic at Lithia and Driveway Fields.
The Falcons (3-11) scored single runs in each of the first three innings – as Tate Haskins scored on a wild pitch in the first, Payton Price delivered Branden Jones from third with a ground out in the second and Mark Carpenter scoring on a Kollin Tacchini fielders choice.
The Nuggets battled back in the middle innings, scoring twice in the fourth and taking the lead in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Diatte hit a sharp grounder to second, beating out the return throw to first on the double play attempt – with both AJ Elzy and Davis Carr scoring to give GP the lead.
KF pulled even in the bottom of the fifth, as singles from P.J. Safford, Carpenter and Tyler Harper loaded the bases – with Carpenter scoring on a Tacchini fielders choice to make it 4-4.
In the sixth, GP loaded the bases with no outs and Kellen Willer singled in the go-ahead run. Elzy followed, gapping a bases clearing triple to break the game wide open.
Elzy earned the win, working around seven hits and three walks in six innings of work, while going 3-for-3 at the plate.
Harper finished 3-for-4 for the Falcons, who finished 0-5 in the tournament.
Klamath returns to Area 4 play on Tuesday, traveling to Medford for a doubleheader, followed by a Wednesday date at Siskiyous in Weed.
Photo courtesy of Liza Safford/Inside the Lines Photography
