Errors doom Merchants in loss to Seattle

TACOMA — The Everett Merchants concluded their regular season play with an 11-7 loss to the Seattle Studs Tuesday night.

The game was largely a tune-up for both teams who are preparing to head to Wichita, Kan., for the NBC World Series.

Tjhe two squads combined nine errors, the Merchants suffering the most as their five led to five unearned runs.

Everett (30-11) kicked things off in fine form, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings behind a string of hits to build a 4-1 lead. In the first, Kyle Phillips plated Ian Parmley with an RBI double after the latter walked. Phillips then scored on an RBI single by Jace Sloan.

Then in the second inning, another walk and a single followed by a wild pitch gave Phillips another opportunity to drive up his RBI total and he took advantage, singling for his second hit in as many innings.

Phillips finished 3-for-5 with four RBI.

However, the Merchants squandered their 4-1 lead behind the aforementioned sloppy defense.

Leading the way for Seattle, which improved to 35-4, was Brett Wilcox with a 3-for-5 night, which included two doubles and four RBI.

The Merchants will open play in the NBC World Series at 8 p.m. Sunday against the Chillicothe Mudcats from Missouri.