The Tigers split a home doubleheader against Aberdeen on Saturday to pick up its first win of the season, but dropped the second game and had losses to Selah and Sageview over the past week to lower their record to 1-5.

Cooper Vasquez struck out 10 and didn't allow a run in the morning game, but six errors in the afternoon cost the Tigers a sweep. Ephrata split its home doubleheader with Aberdeen on Saturday, March 21, part of a rough stretch that has the Tigers 1-5 on the season.

vs. Aberdeen (DH Game 1), W 1-0

In Saturday's opening game against Aberdeen, Ephrata pitcher Cooper Vasquez had an outstanding outing, striking out 10 and not allowing a run in the 1-0 victory.

Vasquez scattered five hits over 6-1/3 innings, throwing 96 pitches and picking off a runner in the sixth to kill an Aberdeen scoring threat. Kai Kaleohano retired the final two batters for the save.

Ephrata scored its only (unearned) run in the first inning without a hit. Mitchell Johnson walked and advanced to second on a Vasquez sacrifice bunt. Charles Poirrier took over for Johnson as a courtesy runner. With two outs and Cale Fronsman at the plate, Poirrier broke for third, then stole home on a throw that eluded Aberdeen’s third baseman.

On defense, the Tigers played error-free baseball while the offense produced four hits: Vasquez went 2-for-3 with two doubles, Fronsman also doubled, and Caleb Froewiss singled.

vs. Aberdeen (DH Game 2), L 11-5

Ten unearned runs coming on six costly errors haunted the Tigers in their 11-5 second-game loss.

On the mound, Fronsman was solid through five innings, giving up four runs, all unearned. Poirrier pitched two innings in relief, when Ephrata surrendered eight runs, with seven of them unearned.

On offense, Ephrata chipped away but never caught up. Vasquez stole home in the fourth to cut Aberdeen's lead to 2-1, and Landen Stephens scored on a Johnson RBI single in the fifth to make it 3-2.

The Tigers' best inning came in the sixth. Poirrier's two-RBI single to right scored Elijah Davis and Kaleohano, then courtesy runner Dayne Holland stole home to pull Ephrata within two at 7-5. But Aberdeen answered with four runs in the top of the seventh to put it away.

at Sageview, L 8-1

Last Tuesday March 17, Ephrata managed just one hit — a double by Vasquez — on a road trip to Sageview High School in Pasco.

The Tigers' lone run came when Poirrier reached first on a dropped third strike, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on another wild pitch during Mayson Stredwick's at-bat.

Sageview's Kyson Mackay got the pitching win, striking out nine over four innings.

For Ephrata, Stephens struck out four, walked two, and gave up seven runs in two innings. Pitching well in relief, Kaleohano went three innings, allowing two hits and one run.

at Selah, L 12-2

Ephrata was 10-runned over six innings in the Tuesday, March 24 loss to Selah.

The Tigers posted their two runs in the top of the second. Elijah Davis walked, Andrew Rowlands singled him to second, and Stredwick bunted for a hit to load the bases. A balk by Selah pitcher Braxton Young scored Davis. With two outs and Poirrier at the plate, Rowlands then stole home from third for a 2-0 lead. 

But the host Vikings responded by scoring 12 runs, eight of them earned, while taking advantage of nine walks. Tiger pitchers Stephens, Poirrier and Clayton Wolther combined to record four strikeouts.

Ephrata hosts Grandview in a doubleheader this Friday, March 27. First pitch is 3:30 p.m.