Mavericks fall 7-6 Sunday in Fort McMurray
By James Tubb on July 10, 2022.
It was a back and forth affair Sunday for the Medicine Hat Mavericks. The Mavericks and Fort McMurray traded runs all afternoon but it was the Giants who scored last and held on to win 7-6. Sunday was not as dramatic of a loss as Medicine Hat has had throughout their road trip, as they lost on back to back walk off hits Saturday and Friday. The Giants beat the Mavericks 4-3 Saturday after the Sylvan Lake Gulls had a two run walk off home run to beat Medicine Hat 5-3 Friday. Fort McMurray opened the offence Sunday, scoring four combined runs in the second and third innings. The Mavericks answered back in the top of the third. Back to back RBI singles from left fielder Kellen Williamson and designated hitter Austin Cappas got the Mavericks on the board and led the way for right fielder David Dell, who scored two runs with a two RBI triple to tie the game at 4-4. The Giants once again scored in two separate innings, leading the Mavericks 6-4 after five frames. Mavericks starter Zac Robinson’s day was done on the mound after the fifth inning. He picked up two strikeouts while allowing 10 hits and six runs in his five innings of work. Bryce Libke took over on the bump. Libke worked clean sixth and seventh innings as he held the Giants at bay long enough for the Mavericks to strike in the top of the eighth. With two runners on base, first basemen Gerrit Erickson hit an RBI double to bring the Mavericks with one. The marker was Erickson’s first hit and RBI in the WCBL in his first non-pitching appearance. Erickson hit batting practice all spring season while pitching at Chico State University but had yet to register an at-bat with the Mavericks. Catcher Zach Stark followed up Erickson’s knock with a sac hit to second base that scored Dell from third to tie the game at 6-6. The Giants gained momentum in the bottom of the eighth as they scored what would be the winning run on a two out single off of Libke. He finished his afternoon off with three innings pitched, one strikeout and one run on three hits. The Mavericks challenged with the bases loaded and only one out in the ninth inning but they were not able to plate any runs as Fort McMurray held on for the 7-6 victory. Medicine Hat(12-21) is back in action Monday as they head to Sylvan Lake to take on the Gulls for the second time in four days. That contest gets underway at 7:05 p.m. 13-12
