Fallon designated hitter Branden Beeghly smacks a two-run single during the Greenwave's 12-11 win over Spring Creek on Saturday. Beeghly also hit a game-tying two-run double in Saturday's finale as Fallon swept the Spartans.
Less than a month into the season, Tyler Bagby and Branden Beeghly have become Fallon’s version of the Killer Bs.
The dynamic duo is feasting on opposing pitching including leading the Greenwave to a three-game sweep over Northern Division I-A foe Spring Creek last weekend. Fallon opened with an 11-1 win Friday, then followed up with a 12-2 victory and rallied for a 12-11 win in the finale on Saturday.
“This whole series our bats were working,” Fallon coach Lester de Braga said. “We got kids who are producing. That’s the mark of a good team when you can come back and win like that.”
Yet, in the thick of the seventh-inning rally were Bagby and Beeghly with a huge assist from Tristen Salazar.
Trailing 11-9, Fallon’s Sage Mori was hit by a pitch, Austin Bischoff singled and Bagby was also hit by a pitch. Beeghly stepped into the box and blasted a two-run single to tie the game.
Salazar capped the sweep with a clutch game-winning single to score Bagby.
“I just knew I had to perform for my team,” Salazar said.
“Just coming up to the batter’s box I know I’m confident,” Beeghly added. “I was a little nervous, but thinking of getting a base hit in the gap and get two runs, and I did.”
Bagby was 3-for-3 with five runs, and added a two-run home run in the first game of Saturday’s twin bill. He leads the club with a .516 average, three homers and 14 RBIs.
Beeghly, meanwhile, has been a force all season as he is second with a .500 average and third with nine RBIs. In Saturday’s finale, he went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and the game-tying single.
“I think it will help out with the team and get the chemistry going,” Beeghly said of the sweep.
Bagby, Beeghly and Salazar went a combined 15-for-28 (.536) at the plate in the three games including 9-for-12 in the finale.
Salazar picked up the win on Friday with a five-inning, two-hit performance. He added four strikeouts and allowed one unearned run.
Salazar is Fallon’s ace and has compiled a 2-1 record with a team-best 2.07 ERA, 15 strikeouts and allowed just seven earned runs in five appearances.
“My pitches were working and I kept my pitch count low,” Salazar added. “I kept them off balance with different pitches. It helps to sweep a team and it builds confidence.”
In the final game against Spring Creek, Fallon also leaned on Austin Bischoff, who added a pair of hits and three runs.
On the mound, Riley Williams got the start, but was touched for six hits and four earned runs in two innings. Reliever Cade Monardo only threw 1/3 of an inning and allowed two runs on three hits.
Chase McElvain also allowed a pair of runs before Alex Mendez was able to hold Spring Creek scoreless. Mendez allowed three hits in 3 2/3 innings and struck out five to pick up the win.
The Spartans’ Adrian Avina was tagged with the loss as he allowed four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Saturday’s first game, meanwhile, saw the emergence of Joe Pyle, who led the Wave with a pair of hits. Cody Long, Sage Orozco and Sage Mori each had a pair of RBIs, while Orozco and Mori each added a triple.
Long picked up the win as he struck out three and allowed four hits in four innings. Mike Smith took the loss as he allowed nine earned runs and 11 hits in four innings.
“For us, it’s a huge … a big confidence builder,” De Braga said. “We still boot the ball around a bit, and there’s some things we need to clean up.”
The sweep was much needed and a relief after the Spartans appeared poised to steal a win. Fallon climbs up the league standings to third place, trailing Fernley (4-0) and South Tahoe (4-1).
Fallon visits Fernley on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. The Wave continues league play with a three-game set at Elko on April 11 and 12.