Down 10-8 late in Game 3, Cheap Goats tied the game in the sixth before scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to break a 10-10 tie, defeating Jack Shack 14-10 in Game 3 of their best-of-five first-round playoff series and taking a 2-1 series lead. Cheap Goats pounded out eighteen hits and eight home runs, Christian delivered 3.5 scoreless innings of relief, and Joey had four extra-base hits, including a solo homer with one out in the top of the sixth to extend the game, and a two-run homer that capped the four-run seventh inning rally. The win moved Cheap Goats within one victory of a second consecutive trip to the Wiffle Series.
Jon M got the start for Jack Shack, and Cheap Goats jumped on him immediately, riding a wave of momentum from their Game 2 win. Joey led off the game with a triple, and Kevin followed with an RBI double to give Cheap Goats a 1-0 lead. Courtlen then launched a two-run homer, extending the advantage to 3-0. Christian and Dinger followed with back-to-back solo homers, and three consecutive Cheap Goats batters had gone deep to make the score 5-0. After Conor grounded out, Joey doubled for his second hit of the inning, but Jon M retired Kevin to finally end the five-run outburst.
Dinger took the mound for Cheap Goats, and Jack Shack answered in the bottom of the first. Jon M tripled with one out, and Jacob followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-1. Dinger retired Jon D to end the inning and strand Jacob at second.
Courtlen led off the second with his second homer in as many at-bats, a solo shot that pushed the Cheap Goats lead to 6-1. Jon M recovered to retire Christian and Dinger to end the inning, and Jack Shack trailed by five runs.
Jack Shack continued to chip away in the bottom of the second. Dave led off with a double before Josh crushed a two-run homer to make it 6-3. Two batters later, Jacob added a solo homer, cutting the Cheap Goats advantage to 6-4. Dinger retired Jon D to end the inning.
Conor singled to begin the third, and Joey moved him to second with a sacrifice fly. Kevin then launched a two-run homer, and Cheap Goats led 8-4. Courtlen and Christian followed with back-to-back singles, but Jon M retired Dinger to strand both runners and prevent further damage.
Jack Shack answered again in the bottom of the third. After Dave flew out, Josh doubled and Jon M followed with a two-run homer, trimming the deficit to 8-6. Jacob singled and Jon D doubled to keep the rally alive, but Dinger retired Dave to strand both runners and preserve the two-run lead.
Cheap Goats were retired in order for the first time in the top of the fourth, and Jack Shack took advantage in the bottom half. Josh led off with a double, his third consecutive extra-base hit, and Jon M singled him home to make it 8-7. After Jacob grounded out, Jon D launched a two-run homer, giving Jack Shack its first lead of the game at 9-8. Dave followed with a solo homer, and the back-to-back jacks extended the advantage to 10-8. Cheap Goats made a call to the bullpen, turning to Christian on the mound, and he retired Josh to finally end the four-run inning with Cheap Goats now trailing by two runs.
Cheap Goats immediately pulled back within a run in the fifth. Kevin led off with a double and Courtlen followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Christian grounded out, but Kevin scored on the play to cut the deficit to 10-9. Jon M retired Dinger to end the inning and preserve the one-run Jack Shack lead.
Christian kept Jack Shack off the board in the bottom of the fifth. Jacob singled with one out, but Christian retired Jon D to strand him and keep Cheap Goats within a run.
After Conor flew out to begin the sixth, Cheap Goats were one out away from trailing 2-1 in the series, but Joey delivered the tying blow, launching a solo homer to even the game at 10-10. Jon M retired Kevin to send the game to the bottom of the sixth with the score tied.
Jack Shack needed to plate a single run to escape Game 3 with a win and take an advantage in the series, but Christian retired Dave and struck out Josh, sending the game to extra innings with the series lead hanging in the balance.
Cheap Goats broke through in the top of the seventh. Courtlen grounded out to begin the inning, but Christian tripled to put the go-ahead run on third. Dinger then crushed a two-run homer, giving Cheap Goats a 12-10 lead. Conor followed with a single, and Joey delivered another two-run homer, his second blast of the game, extending the Cheap Goats advantage to 14-10. Jon M retired Kevin to end the inning, but Cheap Goats had taken a commanding lead.
Christian returned to the mound looking to close the door on Jack Shack. He retired Jon M and Jacob in order to end the game, securing the 14-10 victory and giving Cheap Goats a 2-1 lead in the series.
The victory moved Cheap Goats within one win of advancing to the 2026 EWL Wiffle Series Championship, leading 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
W: Christian (1-0)
L: Jon M (1-2)
Game Notes:
– Christian earned the victory in relief for Cheap Goats, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out one over 3.5 innings
– Dinger started for Cheap Goats, allowing ten runs on thirteen hits in 3.5 innings.
– Jon M took the loss for Jack Shack, allowing fourteen runs on eighteen hits in a complete game effort.
– Joey led the Cheap Goats offense, going 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, two home runs, a sac fly, three runs scored, and three RBI.
– Courtlen also had a big game, going 4-for-5 with two singles, two home runs, two runs scored, and three RBI.
– Kevin had three extra-base hits for Cheap Goats, going 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI.
– Jacob led Jack Shack in the loss, going 4-for-6 with two singles, a double, a home run, a run scored, and two RBI.
– Josh had three extra-base hits for Jack Shack, going 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.
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