Morrison blasts two home runs, tallies seven RBIs as Mavs beat Energy City

By James Tubb on July 5, 2025.

Medicine Hat News

The Medicine Hat Mavericks outlasted the Energy City Cactus Rats in a slug fest in Spruce Grove on Saturday.

Medicine Hat product Evan Morrison went yard twice, with a three-run home run and a grand slam, finishing the afternoon contest with seven RBIs as the Mavs’ beat the Cactus Rats 11-10. The pair of home runs puts Morrison in a three-way tie for the WCBL’s home run lead with eight on the season.

It was Energy City, playing at a temporary park while still awaiting the final construction on their permanent home, who opened the scoring.

They scored four runs in the first inning, with an RBI single getting them on the board with a pair of runners still on base. Second baseman Drew Abercrombie hit a three-run home run to give the Cactus Rats the early 4-0 lead.

The Mavs responded in the next inning, with Morrison’s three-run home run bringing them within one of the Cactus Rats. They tied the game up in the fourth inning with an RBI single from Micah Dvorak. Adam Vulcano scored on a passed ball later in the frame to give the Mavs a 5-4 lead.

They added to the lead in the next inning, with Tyler Vanneste scoring from second base on an error by the Cactus Rats’ first baseman for the 6-4 advantage.

Luis Diaz started the game for the Mavs, working into the sixth inning before he was lifted with the bases loaded and two outs. A.J. Doll took over and Energy City plated a pair on an RBI single to right field.

Diaz’ lined finished at six runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four in 5.2 innings pitched.

Morrison brought in a run on an infield hit, giving the Mavs a brief 7-6 lead. The Cactus Rats scored twice in the bottom of the inning, once again grabbing the lead, jumping ahead 8-7.

After a quick out to start the top of the eighth, the Mavs loaded the bases with a hit by pitch and back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Morrison. The second-year Mavs’ first baseman drove the second pitch he saw over the outfield wall for the grand slam and the 11-8 lead.

Luke Barrientos took the mound in the seventh after the Cactus Rats scored their two runs, recording the last two outs of the frame. Energy City led off the eighth with a solo home run, making it a 11-9 Mavs’ lead. They scraped across another run on an RBI single to make it a 11-10 game. Barrientos worked a groundout and a pop out to escape the inning.

The Mavs went three up, three down in the top of the ninth. Ryan Harney took over on the mound, looking for the save in the bottom of the frame. He recorded two strikeouts before inducing a fly out to right field for the final out, preserving the 11-10 win.

Barrientos picked up the win, allowing the two runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched. Energy City outhit the Mavs 11-10, both teams stranded nine runners on base.

The Mavs (21-11) are back at Spruce Grove on Sunday to face the Cactus Rats at 1:05 p.m., the final game of the six-game road trip through the west division. A win Sunday would give the Mavs a 5-1 record on the trip.

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