Fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive in the WCBL's Eastern Division Finals, it was a near-perfectly balanced outing for the Swift Current 57's, who executed a 4-2 Game 2 win over the visiting Regina Red Sox Tuesday night.

Seven different 57's had hits, combining for 10 in total, highlighted by three from Jared Binsfeld, and two from both Tanner Holen and Jack Large.

On the mound, starter Zach Patterson lasted 7-1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out a half dozen Red Sox.

Zach Patterson is now 2-0 in the playoffs, carrying a 2.02 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 13-1/3 innings (photo by Eric James)

Closer Garret Alexander executed a five-out save, allowing just one hit. It's already his third save of the playoffs.

"There's no quit in any of our guys," said shortstop, and leadoff hitter, Kiel Krumwiede. "Patty came out and shoved just like he always does - You know you're going to get a competitive start out of him. Our lineup, one through nine, there was fight in everyone. I don't know how many two-strike hits we had tonight, but that's the difference in a 4-2 ball game."

Four of the 57's ten hits were of the two-strike variety, including a string of three-straight with two out in the third inning that eventually brought home the game-winning run.

John Sechen drove in two with a single on an 0-2 count after two called strikes and three-straight fouled off pitches. Jack Large then brought in Sechen, on a single off a full count. Rounding out the effort, Binsfeld also ripped a single on an 0-2 count.

The win, coming after a Monday night postponement due to a rainy day in Swift Current, was the right kind of response to a disheartening 5-4 loss in Game 1 in the provincial capital.

"It was a tough loss, because we came from behind 4-1," said Krumwiede. "You think about that, that comes down to one of those first two home runs, and that's the game. It's just about being competitive every pitch, and seeing what happens."

Krumwiede hit a double and later scored in his first at-bat, finishing the game 1-for-5. His playoff batting average is still a torrid .368 (photo by Eric James)

For Krumwiede, it was a special victory, as he got to extend the EDF to a third-and-final game in front of his family, who traveled up from Glasgow, MT.

"That's why I've come here three years in a row - to be three hours from home, and have them come up and support... beats being 14 (hours away) in Omaha," said Krumwiede.

Swift Current is still the only team in the entire WCBL playoff race to have won a road game, and will need to duplicate their Game 2 effort against Weyburn from Round 1 tonight.

With a spot in the WCBL Championship series on the line, the 57's head to Regina for Game 3, not really looking to stray too far from the Game 2 game plan.

"Kind of the same thing. We put up ten hits throughout our lineup, and that's what's going to win ball games - just putting pressure on them, coming out, and playing our game," said Krumwiede.

Tyler Murphy gets the start for the 57's - first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

The winner of tonight's game will advance to face the Okotoks Dawgs who took Game 3 of their series with the Lethbridge Bulls at home in a 4-3 effort.