Overbay Walk Off Clinch Series win
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 22, 2024) – In a game where runs were tough to come by, an Alex Overbay pinch hit single in the bottom of the ninth would seal the 3-2 victory. The Portland Pickles (12-6) win game two over the visiting Nanaimo NightOwls (7-10) and have won their sixth series this season.
The bottom of the third and the top of the sixth saw two runs a piece. A couple of errors would give the Pickles their two runs, and a two-run homer would give the Night Owls their two runs, and tie the game 2-2. The Pickles had their chances to push runners across as they left nine runners on base, and had runners in scoring position in six of nine innings.
A two-run home run would be the only blemish for the Pickles’ pitching staff. Left-hander Brock Roundy (Utah Tech) made his third start of the season and impressed. Roundy would throw five shutout innings, allowing just two hits, striking out seven. After Shay Timmer took the lead in innings and strikeouts, Roundy topped him in both categories (18 innings and 21 strikeouts). Roundy has yet to allow a run this season. Right-hander Matthew Shapiro would follow up Roundy with 3.1 innings and five strikeouts of his own. Between the two, the Pickles struck out 12 Night Owls, and gave up only five hits in the victory.
Key Moments of the Game:
The bottom of the third saw a leadoff single from second baseman Shunsuke Sakaino (CSUN), which would bring the first base runner of the game aboard. A sacrifice bunt from first baseman Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii), and an error on a fly ball hit by shortstop Chipper Beck (BYU) would bring runners on first and second with one out. An error from the Night Owl second baseman would help score the first two runs and take the 2-0 lead.
Top of the fifth, a hit-by-pitch would give the Night Owls another baserunner to start the inning. A stolen base would move a runner to scoring position, but the threat would go nowhere as Roundy struck out another batter to end the inning and keep the 2-0 lead.
The bottom of the fifth started just like the third inning. Second baseman Shunsuke Sakaino (CSUN) would collect his second hit of the game with a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt from Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) would move Sakaino to second. However, the Pickles’ were unable to push another run across this time.
A one-out single would bring another baserunner across for the Night Owls in the top of the sixth inning. A two-run homer would follow, and the game would then be tied 2-2. A pair of double plays in the bottom of the sixth and eighth innings would end the Pickles’ threat on the bases and keep the game tied 2-2.
Top of the ninth, Shapiro and left-hander Noah Luchessi (Sacramento State) would combine for a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to bring us to the bottom of the ninth. First baseman Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) did not sacrifice a bunt this time. In the bottom of the ninth, he delivered a one out double to put the go-ahead runner on second base. The Pickles would bring pinch runner Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) to run for Ferguson. It was then the man of the hour Alex Overbay (UNLV) time. Overbay would pinch hit with two outs. A line drive to left field would bring pinch runner Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) around to score for the winning run and the 3-2 victory.
GAME NOTES:
Brock Roundy (Utah Tech) matched his season high in innings pitched (5), and set a season high in strikeouts (7). Roundy has yet to allow a run in 18 innings pitched this season.
Matthew Shapiro threw 3.1 innings, giving up three hits, two runs, and a season high five strikeout.
Noa Luchessi (Sacramento State) appeared in his team's leading fifth game of the season, and earned his first win.
Shunsuke Sakaino (CSUN) recorded two hits for his second multi-hit game of the season.
Center fielder Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) recorded a run in his fourth straight game, and recorded a walk and has reached base safely in 15 of 17 games this season. Christiansen also recorded three stolen bases in the game, and his fifth game with at least two stolen bases. Also recorded his third game this season with two walks.
Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) recorded two singles and has recorded at least two hits in three games this season.It is his fourth straight game with a hit, and has reached base safely in his five games played this season. Gouveia has recorded 10? hits in five games played this season.
Dominic Chacon (GCU) recorded his third multi-hit game of the season, and has now recorded back-to-back multi-hit games.
Right fielder Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) recorded a walk and has reached base safely in 14 of 16 games this season.
Alex Overbay (UNLV) delivered the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for the Pickles’ first walk-off win this season.
Three Pickles’ hitters recorded a multi-hit game (Gouveia, Chacon, Sakaino)
The Pickles have won their sixth series of the season, and have won six of seven this season.
The Pickles are 8-4 at home, 4-2 on the road, and 6-4 in their last 10 games.
Pickles In The WCL:
The Pickles stand 3.0 games back of first place in the South Division of the WCL, and second overall in winning percentage (.667). Team defense is first in fielding percentage (.976)
Offense is second in total walks (110), second in OBP (.385) third in stolen bases (42).
Pitching is first in hits allowed (104), in WHIP (1.17), AVG against (.181), and second in total strikeouts (182)
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) sits fourth in runs scored (17), and is tied second in HBP (6)
Connor Stewart (CSUN) sits tied second in HBP.
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) sits tied first in stolen bases (13).
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) sits third in total walks (17).
Brock Roundy (Utah Tech) sits first in ERA (.000) and is tied for fourth in total strikeouts (21.)
Shay Timmer (Salt Lake CC) sits seventh in total strikeouts (18).
Next Up:
The Portland Pickles will look for the series sweep in the series finale against the Nanaimo Night Owls on June 23rd.
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com/
