BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Bellingham used a five-run fifth inning to overcome a three-run deficit and snap a 10-game losing streak Thursday, July 30, as the Bells took the series finale 5-4 against the visiting Corvallis Knights.

In a series and a slump in which it seemed Bellingham couldn’t buy a break, the Bells rallied with two outs in the fifth inning and capitalized on a Corvallis error, a pair of walks, and back-to-back-to-back singles by Trent Bridges, Craig Hertler, and Mark Purser, respectively, to take a 5-3 lead.

“We were able to string together some at-bats in the fifth inning and Garrett (DeRooy) was able to settle down after the home run and keep us ahead,” said Bells head coach Brandon Newell. “With nine games left in the season we’re still right there in the race to make the playoffs. Our guys need to mentally decide if that’s where they want to be because we have the opportunity to earn our spot in the playoffs out on the field during these next nine games.”

Corvallis appeared to have a series sweep in sight as Taylor Ard added to the Knights’ lead with a two-run homerun to left field in the top of the fifth. The Knights were already on top 1-0 as D.J. Gentile scored in the fourth inning following a lead-off walk.

Luke Scott started for the Bells, but was chased from the game after four-plus inning on the mound. He gave up just two of Corvallis’s early runs, but allowed five hits, walked three, had a wild pitch and walked a batter before Garrett DeRooy entered the game in relief.

DeRooy recorded one out before giving up Ard’s homerun, but was put in position to pick up the win following Bellingham’s five-run fifth.

Seth Harvey entered the game in the ninth for the Bells and earned the save after facing just four batters.

At the plate, Purser finished the night 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI. He drove in the final two runs of the fifth inning accounting for the go-ahead run and eventual game-winner.

The win was Bellingham’s first since July 18; the Bells defeated the Bend Elks 12-10 in Bend, Ore., in the second game of a six-game road trip.

“Finally getting the monkey off our backs and back in the win column will give us the boost we need down the stretch,” Newell said. “At this point we can’t wait to see what happens in the standings, we have to do our part to make something happen.”

Bellingham continues its nine-game homestand on Friday, July 31, as the Bells open a two-game set against the Kitsap BlueJackets. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 7 p.m.