The University of the Fraser Valley won their first home games of the year, taking both ends of a Sunday double header vs the Okanagan College Coyotes.
Nick Laflamme had the big knock in the first game, clubbing a walk-off home run in a 5-4 win. The 360 foot bomb ended a back-and-forth match and gave relief pitcher Dan Rogers the win.
Rogers was the third UFV hurler. Jake Gill got the start and went six innings, pitching out of trouble several times. Spencer Dronklaar pitched one inning of relief.
John Lipp got the start on the mound for game two but didn’t fare well, giving up a pair of three-run dingers as the Coyotes jumped out to a 7-1 lead.
But the offence picked up their pitcher.
Down 8-7 in the bottom of the fifth, Riley Jepson came to the plate and crushed the first pitch he saw over the fence in deep center field for a three-run homerun.
Clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth, UFV coach Shawn Corness brought in Rogers to close. The flame thrower struck out two Coyotes to close the inning then pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Sunday’s wins evened UFV’s record at 3-3.
The Cascades opened the weekend dropping a pair of ninth-inning heartbreakers to the Coyotes in Kelowna.
UFV has a home weekend coming up at Fairfield Island, with four games on the slate vs Vancouver Island University.
The Cascades host the Mariners in Saturday and Sunday double-headers.
Game times on both days are noon and 3 p.m.