Sports

An eighth inning insurance run turned out to be the perfect insurance policy as the Kelowna Falcons hung on for a 6-5 victory Thursday over the visiting Bellingham Bells.

Photo: Contributed

The win allowed the Falcons to take three of four from the Bells and move to within a half game of Bellingham in the battle for the second and final playoff spot in the West Coast League's East Division.

Leading 5-3 in the eighth, Jace Conrad drove home Bryan Elias to increase the lead to three.

The Bells didn't go away quietly.

They scored twice in the top of the ninth and loaded the bases with just one out before Conrad was called in to put out the fire.

Conrad got the final two outs to register his third save of the season.

Trailing 3--2 in the third, the Falcons took the lead for good. Troy Conyers drove in the game tying run before Kyle Moses drilled a two-out, two-run single to give the Falcons a 5-3 edge.

Cord Cockrill scattered eight hits and allowed three runs over six innings to earn his sixth win of the season.

The Falcons now make the long bus ride south to Corvallis, Washington for a three game series with the West Division leading Knight beginning Friday night.

The Falcons (22-16), swept the Knights when the two teams faced each other earlier this month at Elk Stadium.

Kelowna has 16 games remaining in the regular season a game with Cowlitz that was rained out at the beginning of the season.