Indians aug13

The comeback kids were at it again, as the Swift Current Indians walked off with a 6-5 win over the Medicine Hat Mavericks in extra innings to take game one of the WMBL Championship Final in front of a season-high 701 fans at Mitchell Field on Wednesday.

The Tribe trailed 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning when Eric Sams hit a two-run single to tie the game, and then Liam Goodall ended it in the 11th with an RBI single with the bases loaded.

"It was a great game, you have the two best teams in the league playing, and that's what you expect... a hard-fought battle both ways and fortunately we came out on top today," said Indians Coach Joe Carnahan. "Liam had a good at-bat there, he was down in the count, and ended up battling back. He put the barrel on the ball, and when you put the barrel on the ball, good things happen."

"Anytime you can get a hit that directly wins the game is always good," Goodall said. "Soon as that ball went through, it was just relief. We won, and it's nice to have that first game."

Matt Spillman also drove in three runs for Swift Current, and Zach Manley got the win on the mound after pitching the 10th and 11th innings without allowing a hit. Starter Juan Pizzaro pitched 5-2/3 innings, allowing three runs and picking up five strikeouts.

The victory was the second walk-off win in a row for the Indians, who also won on an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth in game three of the semi-finals on Saturday to clinch that series against Regina.

"These playoffs have been great, and there's still a bunch more games to go, and I imagine there is going to be a lot more great games ahead of us here." Carnahan added.

Game two of the best-of-five series is tonight at 7:05pm from Mitchell Field, with game three set for Friday in Medicine Hat.