Welz Homers, Bullpen Stout for Sixers in 5-1 Win

Bakersfield, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers used a quintet of arms to down the Bakersfield Blaze 5-1 on Friday at historic Sam Lynn Ballpark and evened a four-game series at one game apiece. Sixers' players had some California League firsts that contributed to the victory as Josh Roenicke earned his first win in the Cal League, Zach Welz his first homer and Adam Hofacket his first save.

Bakersfield starter Eddie Campbell walked Sixers' leadoff man Tim Arakawa to open the game. Arakawa then stole second base, his sixth of the year. He later scored on Taylor Ward's RBI single. Inland Empire (17-33) centerfielder Zach Welz got to Campbell (4-4) in the third with a solo homer out to center field to make it 2-0 and tally his first round-tripper in the circuit. Inland Empire added their next three runs, two in the seventh and one in the eighth without benefit of a base-hit as walks and errors mounted for the Blaze (22-27)

IE starter Jason Hoppe last 2.1 innings and did not allow a run. The righty Roenicke came in with two on in the third and promptly escaped the jam with a ground out and a strikeout. Roenicke went 2.2 innings and did not allow any hits or walks while fanning two. He was credited with his first win and improved to 1-1. Jordan Piche tossed a scoreless sixth for Inland Empire. The Blaze got a run on an RBI single by Kyle Petty in the eighth with one out and threatened for more but Hofacket came into the game and got back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat. Hofacket tossed a perfect ninth as well and the Corona, CA native notched his first save of the year.

The series continues on Sunday at 7:30 pm. The contest cab be heard live at 66ers.com.

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