The Victoria Harbourcats face a do-or-die scenario Wednesday night, after dropping their first West Coast League playoff game in Wenatchee.
The Applesox took game one of the best-of-three North Division series 5-1.
The Harbourcats have home-field advantage in the series, which they will need to take advantage of to keep their season alive.
Game two is Wednesday night at Royal Athletic Park and game three, if necessary, will be Thursday in Victoria.
The Harbourcats won their final eight games of the regular season, but the Applesox scored one run in the first and third innings Tuesday, then blew the game open with three more in the bottom of the fourth.
The Harbourcats avoided a shut-out loss by scoring in the top of the ninth when Harrison Spohn’s two-out double drove in Griffin Paxton, who scored from second base.
Wenatchee starting pitcher Jake Saum got the win by going seven scoreless innings on the mound, allowing four hits and struck out 10 Victoria batters.
Dakota Hawkins took the loss for the Harbourcats, lasting three-and-two-thirds innings with three strikeouts, but gave up five hits and four walks.
Game two at Royal Athletic Park starts at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday night.
CHEK News
