Mende Homerun Pushes Volcanoes Past Everett

The AquaSox (8-23) and Volcanoes (15-16) continue their five-game series at Everett Memorial Stadium Tuesday at 7:05.

(EVERETT, Wash. ) - Sam Mende's first hit of the night was the biggest one of the game for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

The third baseman belted a two-run homer in the top of the tenth inning to break a 4-4 tie and lift Salem-Keizer to a 6-4 win over the Everett AquaSox at Everett Memorial Stadium Monday night.

After Travis Relaford doubled to lead off the inning against Leoncio Munoz for the Volcanoes' first hit since the sixth inning, Mende, who was 0-3 with two strikeouts up to that point, squared to bunt twice and took a ball each time. He then crushed a 2-0 fastball from Munoz (1-2) for the game-winning shot, his first home run of the 2014 season.

It was Salem-Keizer's first lead since the third inning. The AquaSox got the tying runs in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but Wilton Martinez went down on three pitches against Ian Gardeck (2-1) to end the game.

Corey Simpson staked Everett to a two-run lead in the first on a homer onto the berm beyond the right field fence. Simpson's third homer of 2014, off Volcanoes starter Andrew Leenhouts, tied him with Phillips Castillo and Austin Cousino for the team lead.

Salem-Keizer used some creativity to cross the plate three times in the third and take a one-run lead. After a walk and a single put runners at the corners, the Volcanoes executed a hit and run with Relaford at the plate.

Relaford grounded a single through the vacated right side to score Johneshwy Fargas with the first run. The Frogs' right fielder Martinez then overran the ball, allowing Seth Harrison, who had motored to third, to score the tying run and Relaford to move to second. Two batters later, Skyler Ewing plated Relaford with the go-ahead run on a two-out single.

But the AquaSox jumped back out in front with two runs of their own in the fourth. Simpson singled and went to third when Leenhouts threw Castillo's comebacker into center field. Kyle Petty followed with a single to tie the game at 3-3 before Martinez redeemed himself with an RBI double that scored Castillo and put Everett up one.

The Frogs had a chance for another run in the inning, but Petty was cut down at the plate when he tried to score on a wild pitch that rebounded right to Salem-Keizer catcher Jared Deacon.

The Volcanoes retied the game with an unearned run off Cruz Pereira in the sixth. Shilo McCall led off with a single and advanced to third with one out on a passed ball and an error. Fargas then drove in McCall with a fielder's choice to draw Salem-Keizer level.

The game would remain deadlocked until the tenth, despite multiple scoring opportunities for the AquaSox. The best chance came in the seventh, when Everett had the bases loaded with two outs. EJ Ecinosa would end the threat, however, by freezing Castillo with a fastball on the inner half.

Monday's game marked the second time these two clubs had gone to extra innings this season. Everett won 6-5 in 13 innings at Salem-Keizer on June 24. Pereira kept the 'Sox in the game with a strong effort out of the bullpen.

The lefty worked 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit and the unearned run while striking out three. Simpson was 2-4 and Petty was 3-4 for the Frogs. Everett starter Luiz Gohara took a no decision after allowing three runs in 4.1 innings.

The AquaSox (8-23) and Volcanoes (15-16) continue their five-game series at Everett Memorial Stadium Tuesday at 7:05. Jeffeson Medina (0-3, 3.86) starts for Everett against Salem-Keizer's Jose Reyes (2-3, 3.93).