The Peninsula Oilers fell to the Chugiak Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field on Wednesday night in the final run of their first away series, 4-0.
Kenai and Chugiak played evenly throughout the first two thirds of the game, holding each other to limited base runners and zero runs through the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning the Oilers had a chance to get on the board as runners reached the bases — John Olmstead on a walk, Taylor Johnson on a single, Andrew Sojka on a fielder’s choice and Bryce Marsh on a hit by pitch — but couldn’t capitalize to score, leaving the bases loaded heading into the bottom of the sixth.
The Chinooks scored their first run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an Oilers error, the first run of the game. Kenai got out of the inning on a play at the plate, left fielder Owen Christy launching an in-line throw to Johnson at home for a 7-2 out.
Kenai only saw one base runner in the top of the eighth, Johnson, who reached on a walk.
Oiler pitcher Lee Atkinson substituted for Jacob Dillon with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the eighth, a large feat late in the game. Chugiak put three more runs on the board against Kenai during their eighth at-bat, scoring two runs on wild pitches and one on an RBI double from Joe Kiel.
The Oilers were down 4-0 heading into their final at-bat.
With one out in the top of the ninth inning Henry Novicki advanced on a single and put himself in scoring position with a stolen base to second.
Trevor Antonson had a full count at the plate with two outs when Novicki was tagged out, caught stealing at third, for the final out of the game.
The Oilers lost with zero runs on four hits and one error. The Chinooks won with four runs on six hits and one error.
Liam Rocha pitched for six innings. He had five strikeouts, two walks and surrendered four hits.
Andre Orselli threw an inning, walking one and giving up one run on one hit.
Dillon saw just three batters in the bottom of the eighth. He walked one batter and hit two, surrendering three runs.
Atkinson threw in the relief spot for an inning. He had one strikeout, one walk and allowed one hit.
Novicki had half the team’s hits, batting two for four. Johnson went one for three and Sojka went one for four.
The Oilers come back to the peninsula to start a 10-game home series against the Matsu Miners at 7 p.m. on Saturday. They are now with two wins and six losses in the regular season.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
