BELLINGHAM–Illig started the scoring as he cleared the bases with a three-run laser shot to make it 3-0 after a pair of singles by Austin Shenton and Kody Matthews. Max Flower quickly doubled before advancing to third on a groundout. Ryan Mendoza then whipped one into left-center to score Flower.
Austin Pinorini followed in the bottom of the second with his second home run of the season, a solo drive to right field to make it 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Illig had his second home run of the night, and his third of the series. The 2-RBI moonshot gave him his seventh and eighth RBI’s against Victoria in the last three games.
Siler (1-0) looked sharp and did not give up a hit for the first 16 batters he faced before a single ended the streak. His breaking balls looked sharp and kept the HarbourCats for most of the game. Despite giving up just three hits, he allowed four runs in the top of the sixth.
The Bells got back on the bats in the bottom of the sixth, as a sacrifice fly and a pair of singles scored three runs to put the Bells ahead 10-4.
Victoria pulled back within striking distance thanks to four consecutive walks, making the score 10-7 by the top of the seventh. However, the Bells shut the door there, not allowing a run for the remainder of the game.
Closer Luke Manuel (0-1) earned his fifth save of the season, looking electric in the top of the ninth inning. He tossed two strikeouts and faced the minimum.
The Bells travel Saturday to Wenatchee for a three-game series. Air Time 6:05pm on KBAI 930AM &98.9FM.
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(Bells/KPUG Staff)