The Weyburn Beavers were looking to bounce back after their opening-day loss as they opened up a home-and-home with the Moose Jaw Miller Express at Tom Laing Park Friday evening. A solid night of pitching from Owen McConnell, Brett Paterson and Jacob Clark powered the Beavers to a 3-2 victory. Paterson would be credited with the win, and Clark the save.
Offensively, the Beavers were led at the dish by Ryan Muizelaar and Trent Lawson, who had two hits each in the win. Muizelaar also picked up a stolen base. Ryan McCarthy helped things along with a double as well.
Weyburn's first run came when a dropped third strike allowed Robert Gurney to beat out the throw to first to safely reach base. On the play, Muizelaar was able to cross the plate giving Weyburn the lead. There would be two more runs scored in the 6th inning. The first was when McCarthy scored on a passed ball, then Muizelaar scored on a fielder's choice with Eric Wirun at the plate.
The next night, the two teams would play at Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw. The Miller Express would score nine runs over the course of the 5th, 6th and 7th innings to take an 11-6 victory against the Beavers.
The Beavers would have six pitchers take to the mound in the loss, with Cole McGregor getting tagged with the loss after going 4 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out two. Jared Hall pitched for one inning, with Mason Fichter, Clark, Paterson and Wirun all spending some time on the bump.
Trent Lawson drove in three runs in the losing effort, going 2-for-5 at the plate. Also driving in runs in the game were Cale Yuzdepski and Brayden Murua. Ryan Dauphinee finished the night with four hits, and drawing a walk in five plate appearances. Also recording hits in the loss were Matthew Rachman, Gurney and Tyren Dorrance.
The Beavers will be back in action Tuesday, when they open a pair of games against the Medicine Hat Mavericks at Tom Laing Park.