The Kelowna Falcons got great pitching and timely hitting to bounce the Bellingham Bells 6-0 before 1,109 fans Wednesday night at Elks Stadium.
The third and deciding game in the West Coast Baseball League series went Thursday night in Kelowna. The winner meets the Bend Elks of Oregon in second-round action.
The Falcons scored in the first inning on a double steal after Grant Meylan led off with a double and moved to third on Matt Hearn’s sacrifice bunt. With Hunter Villanueva on the move following a walk, he was out at second, but Meylan came home to open the scoring.
Kelowna made it 4-0 in the fourth off a great squeeze bunt from Kyle Plantier for an RBI, followed by a big two-out, two-run triple from Hearn.
That was all Californian Michael Koval needed, as he scattered six hits through six innings to pick up the win. Curtis Taylor and Spencer Applebach finished the shutout.
Kelowna added runs in the sixth on an RBI- double from Vinny Esposito, and another on an RBI-single from Josh Egan in the seventh.
Bellingham won the opener 2-1 Tuesday night at Joe Martin Field in Washington State.
Justin Calomeni was strong for the Bells on the mound, giving up just one hit over seven innings.
Falcon starter Brady Miller was effective and got the help of his defence, as he scattered four hits and gave up one run through six.
Jayse Bannister worked the seventh inning, as the Bells took a 2-1 lead on a Aaron Stroosma single after Patrick McGrath had moved around to second on a sacrifice following a leadoff walk.
