Brady Locker, Sam Richter and Tanner Leighton opened the home half of the third with back-to-back-to-back hits before Bellingham benefited from a bases-loaded walk and two hit batsmen to take the early 3-0 lead.

Kitsap made it 3-1 in the fifth inning on a run-scoring single by catcher Tim Rupp before exploding for five runs in the sixth. Bellingham relief pitcher Brandon Foster entered the game and gave up all five runs on four hits and a walk before being pulled with just one out.

Bells head coach Brandon Newell then turned to Ludtke to see if the left-hander could keep his club in the game.

“Mitch was really, really good out there for us tonight,” Newell said. “We could have left him out there longer, but we decided to take him out so we only lose him for one day.

“He’s shown flashes of his great ability all season and tonight he just pulled it all together. He was able to throw all three of his pitches for strikes consistently and kept his pitch count down.”

Richter led the Bells offensively going 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. He also reached base in the sixth after being hit by a pitch. Leighton and Locker eached finished with a pair of hits as well.

Bellingham wraps up its homestand Saturday, Aug. 1, in the series finale against Kitsap. Saturday’s game will also feature the final post-game fireworks show of the Bells’ 2009 season. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 7 p.m.