3/16/14
WALLA WALLA — Clayten Ayres slugged three doubles and a single, drove in a pair of runs and scored four times to spark Walla Walla to a 10-5 victory over Grays Harbor in the first game of an NWAACC baseball doubleheader Sunday at Warriors Field.
The Warriors then pounded out 14 hits and took advantage of six Chokers errors in a 19-1 victory to complete the sweep and improve to 7-1 on the season.
“Clayten did a nice job of getting into hitters counts and then driving the ball in game one,” Warriors coach Dave Meliah said.
“We didn’t play a very good game mentally, but we were still able to put 10 runs on the board,” Meliah added. “We overcame some of our issues and (Jesse) Houser was able to control the game on the mound.”
Houser allowed two runs, one earned, and scattered four hits as he worked the first six innings on the mound. He struck out 10 and walked two.
Houser then took over with his bat in the second game as he homered and singled twice, drove in five runs and scored twice. Austin Kopacz added three singles and scored three times and Cody Price and Moe Handcox Jr. each contributed a pair of hits as the bottom of the Warriors lineup carried the day.
Juan Munoz picked up the victory as he hurled five innings, allowed two hits and one run. He struck out six, walked one and hit a pair of batters.
“Juan threw great,” Meliah said. “He worked ahead in the count to almost every batter.
“And Jesse (Houser) and Austin (Kopacz) hit some balls right on the nose.”
