The Peninsula Oilers, with their backs’ against the wall and fighting for their playoff lives outmatched the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks 6-2 in a 12-inning marathon at Lee Jordan Field on Saturday.
The Oilers (13-26) ended a seven-game losing streak with the win and regained possession of fourth place in the Alaska Baseball League standings entering a three-day, off-day stretch. The Chinooks (11-24) finish the season 4-7 against the Oilers.
Oilers 6- Chinooks 2
Both starting pitchers went six plus innings on Saturday, neither starter factored into the decision in the series finale between both teams.
The Oilers’ Connor McCord in his first start against the Chinooks tossed six innings. He allowed two runs and struck out seven batters.
The Oilers bullpen factored in to throw eight innings of no-run, one hit baseball from innings seven through 12.
In the top of the third, the Oilers scored the game’s first run on a Bobby Goodloe two-out RBI triple that plated Travis Bohall against Chinooks starter Trevor McGee.
The Chinooks tied the game in the fourth when Daniel Freeman delivered a two-out RBI double against McCord to scored Ethan English, who had reached on a triple.
Chugiak took the lead in the sixth on a Jess Davis lead-off home run against McCord.
In the eighth inning, the Oilers tied the game 2-2 on a Victor Carlino RBI single that plated Skyler Messinger.
The Oilers, in the top of the ninth had a chance to take the lead but a diving catch on a Messinger line drive in center field with the bases loaded ended the Oilers threat in regulation.
The Chinooks had a man left at second base in the bottom of the inning.
In extra innings, Oilers relievers Travis Roberts, Jake Adams and Bryan Woo allowed one hit in three innings pitched.
In the top of the 12th inning, the Oilers erupted for four runs against Chinooks reliever Michael Barker. RBI singles from Jaden Fein and Goodloe followed by a two-run single by Woo (his first at-bat of the summer) pushed the Oilers to a 6-2 lead.
Woo retired the Chinooks in order to end the game in 12 innings.
Oilers begin final homestand of season Wednesday
The Oilers open their final homestand of the summer against the Anchorage Bucs at Coral Seymour Memorial Park at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
The best of five-game series features three consecutive sponsored games to close out the series.
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