A chance at a second consecutive comeback in the 9th inning fell just short for the Swift Current 57's last night in game two of their WMBL first round playoff match-up with the Moose Jaw Miller Express.

Monday's walk-off heroics were nearly mirrored again last night at Mitchell Field, down 6-3 with two outs in the home half of the 9th frame.

Third baseman Riley Campbell drew a walk, which was followed by back-to-back singles by Blake Adams and Bodie Cooper - the latter of which drove in the speedy third baseman.

Down 6-4, and with runners on second and third after a Miller Express fielding error, the hottest bat in the game stepped up to the plate. All 536 fans collectively shifted to the edge of their seats, as shortstop Brett Esau, who hit two solo homers in the contest, worked a 2-0 count before ripping a single to left field - easily scoring Adams from third.

That's where the late-game magic ended for Swift Current, as the next batter, Keil Krumwiede, couldn't beat out a throw to first on a ground ball.

Starting pitching once again kept the 57's in the game's early stages while the bats were held in check. Dustin Wells shone on the mound through six innings, the lone blemish of the first six frames being a solo home run by Moose Jaw infielder Adam Cook.

Into the seventh inning however, fortunes changed for the home side, as back-to-back infielder errors led to three runs in the inning. Wells' stat line was closed after the seventh, charged with two earned runs and eight hits over six and one-thirds innings.

With two sturdy starting-pitching performances on the mound to start the playoffs, 57's head coach Joe Carnahan says the bats needed to be more efficient earlier to aid in the effort, as ten runners were left on base in game two.

"We just have to do a better job of situational hitting - we had a lot of opportunities," he said. "You know, if we cash in one or two of those, who knows - maybe we can get to their bullpen and get things rolling a little bit earlier."

As the series shifts to Moose Jaw tied 1-1, Matt Michalski takes the mound in game three for the 57's. The towering Texan worked a 3.05 ERA over nine starts in the regular season.

Game three at Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw against the Miller Express is set for 7:05 p.m.

The split-series trend carried through the league last night as well, as the three other playoff match-ups were evened up.

The Edmonton Prospects edged the Okotoks Dawgs 2-1, the Medicine Hat Mavericks doubled up the Lethbridge Bulls 6-3, and the Regina Red Sox tripled up the Weyburn Beavers 6-2.