Frogs Stave Off Elimination, Force Game 3

EUGENE, Ore.- Monday night presented a must-win situation for the Everett AquaSox in Eugene, Oregon. The Eugene Emeralds took Game One of the NWL Championship Series on Sunday night 3-1, following two dominant pitching performances from Dylan Cease and Michael Rucker. Needing a quality start in Game Two, Everett gave the ball to Ljay Newsome, an All-Star and two-time NWL Pitcher of the Week. Eugene countered with Tyson Miller, a fourth-round pick by the Cubs in the 2016 MLB Draft. Ljay Newsome was not fazed by the big stage, tossing six innings while allowing only one run on five hits in a 7-1 AquaSox win. Everett's win in Game Two forces a winner-take-all Game Three on Tuesday night at 7:05pm in Eugene.

The AquaSox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Bryson Brigman reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Zack Short. Eric Filia followed with a single into shallow center field. With two outs in the inning, Kristian Brito delivered a two-run single on a bouncing ball past the pitcher.

Eugene responded with a run in the bottom of the second. Tyler Payne plated Wladimir Galindo on a sacrifice fly, making it 2-1 AquaSox.

The Frogs leapt out to a 6-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Bryson Brigman plated the first run on an RBI single to shallow center field. Eric Filia plated two more runs on a two-run single to right-center field. Nick Zammarelli scored the final run of the frame, hitting a sacrifice fly to bring home Brigman.

Eric Filia collected his third RBI of the night in the top of the sixth. Filia hit a sacrifice fly bringing home Dimas Ojeda, swelling Everett's lead to 7-1.

Michael Koval entered the game in the bottom of the seventh in relief of Newsome and tossed a 1,2,3 frame. Joselito Cano followed by pitching a scoreless bottom of the eighth, setting up the ninth for Paul Covelle. Despite a scare, Covelle recorded a scoreless ninth inning, securing a 7-1 win for the Frogs. The win ties the NWL Championship Series at 1-1.

Yojhan Quevedo collected three hits (all singles), finishing the night 3-4. Eric Filia also had three hits, going 3-5, and collecting 3 RBIs.

WP: Newsome (1-0)

LP: Miller (0-1)