Lakers suffer tough loss, earn split with walk-off HR

SANDPOINT — Cory Hawkins hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Riley Creek Lakers a 5-4 win and a split with Lewiston in a legion baseball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at War Memorial Field.

Tyler Lichty pitched a gem in the second game, allowing two runs in the first inning before settling in and mowing down the Lewiston lineup. The Lakers (8-6) led 4-2 in the 7th inning before a defensive miscue with two outs enabled Lewiston to plate two runners and send the game into extra frames.

Hawkins salvaged a tough day for the Lakers, which for the majority of the innings shut Lewiston down, by hitting his second homer of the day, a walk off shot to earn the split.

In the first game, Lewiston rallied to score all seven of their runs in the top of the seventh inning to steal the game 7-6. Cory Hawkins had kept Lewiston's bats in check all game before tiring and leaving with the bases loaded, nobody out and and 5-2 lead in the seventh inning. Zac Manor relieved and struck out the next batter, but an infield error proved costly as Lewiston continued to pile on the runs.

Doubles by Vinny D'Orazi and Tyler Lichty keyed a four-run fifth inning and Dustin Hawkins hit a solo home run as the Lakers built a 5-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. Cory Hawkins led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a home run to make it 7-6, but the Lakers could muster no more in the tough loss.

GAME 1

Lewiston 000 000 7 — 7 8 2

Sandpoint 000 041 1 — 6 7 2

Tyler Knigge and Tim Kerr; Cory Hawkins, Zac Manor and Cody Reichart. W — Knigge. L — Manor.

HITS: Lew — Forge, Chance, Balmer, Line, Kerr 3, Harris. Spt — Wolfe, C. Hawkins, Lichty, D'Orazi 2, D. Hawkins 2. 2B — Kerr, Lichty, D'Orazi. HR — C. Hawkins, D. Hawkins, Line.

GAME 2 — Due to a temporary early deadline at the Daily Bee, no stats were available at press time.