Alberta Red uses late rally to earn draw vs. British Columbia Orange

RHP Carter Loewen (Abbotsford, BC) of the Abbotsford Cardinals was impressive for BC Orange. Photo Credit: Jonathan Soveta

By: Jamie Mountain

Canadian Baseball Network

Alberta Red used a two-run seventh inning to earn a 2-2 tie against BC Orange on Tuesday afternoon at Tournament 12.

Trailing BC (0-0-1) 2-0 heading to the frame, Alberta (0-0-2) loaded the bases on reliever Indigo Diaz. The shutout was broken when Indigo Diaz threw a wild pitch. Shortly after that, Aidan Huggins drew his third walk of the afternoon to bring home the tying run.

Spencer Lindeman, who drove in British Columbia's first run and scored its second, was disappointed his team's lead didn’t stand up, but realizes it’s all a part of the game.

“We just needed someone to throw strikes,” said Lindeman about the seventh inning. “Sometimes that just doesn’t happen but you can’t really do much about it. You just have to hope for the best in those situations.”

Early on St. Albert native Dylan Gates was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Josh Burgmann, but the southpaw ran into trouble in the bottom of the third.

After giving up a lead-off walk to Tyler Duncan, Gates struck out Jordan Dray. Duncan then stole second easily. Lindeman opened the scoring with a double down the left field line, cashing in Duncan. Jesse Unger capped off BC’s offence with a sharp single to left, scoring Lindeman for a 2-0 lead.

Alberta showed promise early in the first inning. Burgmann surrendered a lead-off walk to Huggins, but it was erased when he was gunned out trying to steal second. After giving up a two-out single to Justin King, Burgmann escaped the inning by striking out Soren Graverson.

Burgmann passed his second test in the third inning, retiring the side after allowing a lead-off walk to Huggins and an infield single to Kobe Hyland.

Carter Loewen, no relation to Adam, was brought into pitch for BC in the fourth inning and promptly retired the side, striking out two.

Alberta still struggled to find its offence in the fifth, again being retired in order by Loewen, who was almost perfect on the mound.

“I felt really good out there,” said Loewen. “My changeup was working really well which helps to compliment my fastball.”

BC Orange looked poised to extend its 2-0 lead in the fifth, with Lenn Nakatsuka drawing a walk and pinch-hitter Sam Avila singling off of Alberta reliever Bryce Fraser. He escaped the inning without surrendering a run.

Hyland gave Alberta Red a great chance to score early in sixth inning, reaching with a single, stealing second and then advancing to third. Loewen used his repertoire to retire the side after that.

BC Orange and Alberta Red will face each other once again tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. which may be another tight contest.