A late-inning rally came up short for the Peninsula Oilers on Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Anchorage Glacier Pilots escaped with a 5-4 win against the Peninsula Oilers.
Pilots 5- Oilers 4
The Oilers offense fired on all cylinders in the first inning for two runs against Pilots starter Logan Freeman on a Connor McCord two-run home run, his first of the season.
The Pilots pounced on Oilers starter Bryan Woo for a couple runs in the third inning, tying the game 2-2.
The Pilots took the lead against Woo in the fourth inning on an Alex Baeza RBI single, putting the Pilots up 3-2 through four innings.
With McCord at third base in the fifth inning, Jonathan Villa drove him in on a sacrifice fly, tying 3-3.
The Pilots retook the lead after adding two runs in the sixth against Oilers reliever Drew Thorpe on four-consecutive hits to begin the inning. The Anchorage lead was two runs through five innings, 5-3.
The Oilers added their fourth run in the sixth on a John Mackay sacrifice fly plating Travis Bohall from third base, narrowing the Pilots lead 5-4.
The Oilers with the potential tying run in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings were unable to crack Pilots relief pitching.
Pilots closer Hunter Rigsby entered in the bottom of the eighth with Bohall at second base and two outs, Paul Steffensen flew out to end the inning.
The Oilers in the bottom of the ninth loaded the bases against Rigsby; but Oilers pinch-hitter Giancarlo Servin flew out to center field, ending the game 5-4 Pilots.
The Oilers (7-14) have dropped back-to-back games against the Pilots (11-9) to begin the five-game series.
Oilers continue series against Pilots throughout weekend:
The Oilers host the Pilots for game three of the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Alaska USA FCU Night, a free admission game at Coral Seymour Memorial Park.
Oilers schedule:
June 29 Saturday Alaska USA FCU Night Oilers vs Pilots 7 p.m.
June 30 Sunday Oilers vs Pilots 2 p.m.
July 1 Monday Oilers vs Pilots 7 p.m.
