The Weyburn Beavers returned to the win column Tuesday night, as they picked up a 5-4 extra innings win over Miller Express in Moose Jaw last night. With the win, the Beavers are now 6 ½ games back of Moose Jaw for the fourth and final playoff spot in the WCBL’s East Division.
For much of the night, it was a pitcher's duel. Beavers' starter Ian Heck was outstanding on the mound, going eight innings. He allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out seven Miller Express batters. Heck also helped his own cause at the plate, collecting a hit, an RBI, and scoring a run.
The Beavers’ bats would come to life in the sixth inning, with Heck’s RBI, and Robert Gurney drawing a walk with the bases loaded to bring in another run. The runs answered a solo home run in the fourth by Moose Jaw’s Eduardo Saenz. Weyburn extended their lead in the eighth. Ryan Muizelaar would draw a bases-loaded walk, and then Noah Brooks hit a sacrifice fly to right field that cashed in Zach Tanabe, putting Weyburn up 4-2.
The drama peaked in the bottom of the ninth. With the Beavers just one out away from victory, Moose Jaw catcher Andy Rivas hit a two-run home run, tying the game at 4-4 and forcing extra innings.
In the tenth inning, Brooks would drive in his second run of the game in the top half. Then, in the bottom of the 10th, Connor Nipp came on to pitch for the Beavers. He would need just eight pitches to retire the side, earning the win.
The Beavers will now return home for three games in two nights, all against the Swift Current 57s. The teams will play a doubleheader Wednesday night at Tom Laing Park. The first game is at 4 p.m., and the second at 7 p.m. Then, they play again on Thursday before both teams meet up in Swift Current Friday night.