Kalispell Lakers AA pitchers Matt McLean and Dillon Eaves combined for 26 strikeouts in a two-game sweep of Lethbridge  at Griffin Field on Wednesday. 

McLean started the action in the first game with a superb showing on the mound. He held the Elks to two runs in the game, allowing just six hits while striking out 15 batters and walking two. 

The Lakers backed him up on offense, scoring twice in the first inning while answering Lethbridge rallies with runs in the third and sixth to ride to a 4-2 win. Four different Kalispell batters had an RBI in the game.

In the nightcap, Dillon Eaves held the Elks scoreless through the first six innings, allowing Kalispell to stroll to a 5-2 victory. Eaves gave up just four hits in the complete game outing, striking out 11 and walking four. 

Sean O’Connell hit a home run and batted in two runs and Dillon Matteson hit for a double and three RBIs to lead the Lakers.

“Our top two (pitchers) were tremendous today,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said. “They pounded the zone with all their pitches and allowed us to play defense behind them. It was great to see those kids come out and compete, keep their composure and challenge hitters.”

The wins brought the Lakers back to .500 in conference (9-9 Western AA, 25-18 overall). They have a five game series with Medicine Hat next.

Lakers 4, Elks 2

Lethbridge  010  010  0  —  2  6  2

Kalispell  201  001  x  —  4  9  0

Braeden Heyland and Trevor Sakatch. Matt McLean and Kendrick Lee. W — McLean. L — Heyland.

LETHBRIDGE — Jack McDonald 1-4, Blair Balog 0-4, Heyland 1-3, Sakatch 1-3, Ren Visser 1-3, Brock Groves 1-2, Jordan Chirakawa 0-3, Tanner Layton 0-2, Drew Herauf 1-3. 

2B — McDonald, Groves. RBI — McDonald, Groves.

KALISPELL — Lee 0-4, Dillon Matteson 2-3, Sean O’Connell 1-3, Dillon Eaves 2-3, Adam Frandsen 2-3, Cody Dopps 0-3, Charlie Obermiller 0-3, Nate Bengston 1-3, Jake Johnson 1-3.

2B — O’Connell. RBI — O’Connell, Eaves, Frandsen, Bengston.

Lakers 5, Elks 2

Lethbridge  000  000  2  —  2  4  2

Kalispell  101  021  x  —  5  9  2

Groves, Ryan Kiczula (6) and McDonald. Eaves and Lee. W — Eaves. L — Groves.

LETHBRIDGE — McDonald 1-4, Balog 0-3, Heyland 1-3, Sakatch 1-4, Visser 0-3, Chirakawa 0-3, Justin Sturm 1-3, Layton 0-2, Herauf 1-3.

2B — Sakatch, Sturm. RBI — Balog.

KALISPELL — Lee 0-1, Matteson 3-4, O’Connell 2-4, Eaves 1-4, Frandsen 0-3, Dopps 0-3, Obermiller 0-3, Bengston 2-3, Johnson 1-3.

2B — Matteson, Bengston. HR — O’Connell. RBI — Matteson (3), O’Connell (2).