Zeller, Chase key Prairie in split with Walla Walla

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Brock Zeller struck out five in a complete game win as the Prairie Cardinals beat Walla Walla 8-4 in the second game of a nonleague twinbill late Wednesday.

In the opener, Matt Fleming struck out eight and allowed six hits for the Cardinals, who fell 4-3.

“Matt was very efficient and if we would have made two plays, he would have won 3-1,” Prairie coach Pat Call said. “But that’s baseball. Walla Walla didn’t have a single high school player, and were from either Walla Walla Community College and Whitman, and Matt dominated them from start to finish. We had our changes to score several more runs, but just couldnt’ get that two-out hit we needed to break it open.”

Nick Chase and Brock Zeller had three hits in the second game for Prairie (7-17-1), which hosts Northern Lakes at Post Falls High in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.

“Brock was terrific in the second game,” Call said. “Brock is a lost breed these days. He is not going to overpower anybody, but he will keep you off balance and make you get hits to beat him. He started out a little sketchy, but just kept forcing them to put it in play and we were making the plays. Brock and Nick hit the ball very well all day today.”

FIRST GAME

Prairie 002 010 0 — 3 2 2

Walla Walla 000 211 x — 4 6 1

Matt Fleming and Zach Clark; Walla Walla battery unavailable.

HITS: Pra — B. Zeller, McCliment-Call. WW — unknown.

SECOND GAME

Prairie 123 002 0 — 8 9 2

Walla Walla 200 110 0 — 4 11 2

Brock Zeller and Zach Clark; Walla Walla battery unavailable.

HITS: Pra — B. Zeller 3, S. Zeller, Fleming 2, Chase. 2B — Fleming. WW — unknown.