Stephen Espinoza drove in the game-winning run in the eighth inning, Gary Hall earned the save by striking out two of Springfield’s final three batters and the Ridgefield Raptors took the series opener over the Drifters 4-3 on Friday night at Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Center.
KEY MOMENTS: Ridgefield capitalized on a pair of Springfield errors in the first inning as Travis Welker and Safea Mauai each reached first base and later scored. … Mikey Kane gave Ridgefield a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on an RBI single to score Jacob Sharp. … Springfield’s Ryan Fowler scored the game-tying run in the sixth on a double to right field after Ridgefield turned to reliever Tyler Tilton in place of starter Sawyer Parkin. With a 3-3 tie and the bases loaded, Tilton got Isaiah Thomas to fly out to Sharp in left, stranding three Drifters.
KEY PLAYERS: Kane, Mauai, Welker and Riley McCarthy each had two hits to lead Ridgefield. … Parkin, who pitched nearby at Columbia River High, got the start for the Raptors and went 5.2 innings with three strikeouts, one walk, three earned runs and four hits allowed.
NEXT GAME: Springfield (14-23) at Ridgefield (21-12), 6:35 p.m. Saturday.
