AppleSox outlast HarbourCats in 12-Inning pitching duel

VICTORIA, B.C. - The Wenatchee AppleSox spoiled the Victoria HarbourCats' home opener with a thrilling 3-2 victory in 12 innings on Friday night at Royal Athletic Park.

In a pitching duel that saw the AppleSox match a franchise record with 17 strikeouts, starter Evan Canfield set the tone by punching out nine over five innings. Carter Seely followed suit, striking out six in five scoreless innings of relief. Carson Boesel closed out the game with two shutout innings, inducing a game-ending double play with the tying and winning runs on base.

Wenatchee's bats struggled for most of the night, collecting only three hits over the first 11 innings. However, they came alive in the 12th when Damon Gaither led off with a single, and pinch runner Jack Johnson scored on a two-out RBI single by Antonio Gianni.

The HarbourCats took an early 2-0 lead, scoring on a throwing error during a double steal in the second inning and adding another run on a double and a single with two outs in the third.

Kade Benavidez sparked the AppleSox's comeback in the seventh, doubling in Max Hartman after a hit by pitch. Benavidez then advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.

Seely and Boesel (2-0) navigated through tough situations in the late innings, stranding potential winning runs on base. Victoria threatened in the 12th, putting two runners on with one out, but Boesel induced an around-the-horn double play to secure the victory.

The AppleSox, now 3-0 on their six-game road trip, face the HarbourCats again on Saturday night at 6:35. A win in either of the final two games of the series would give Wenatchee a series victory and a winning record on the trip.