The Savannah Bananas made their first appearance at Autzen Stadium a winning one, turning a sold-out Eugene crowd into part of a 6-3 finish over the Party Animals.
The Bananas built the result by winning the first, fifth, and sixth innings, while the final inning added the pressure that came with Banana Ball’s unusual scoring rules.
A Fast Start Set the Tone
Banana Ball awards a point for each inning won, and the Bananas took the first one in emphatic fashion by outscoring the Party Animals 3-0 in the opening frame. That early edge gave the home crowd plenty to follow as the game moved into a run of trick plays and close offense.
The next few innings stayed tight, with both teams trading moments and keeping the gap at just one point. The Party Animals matched the pace long enough to keep the outcome unsettled before the Bananas pushed back in the fifth.
Late Innings Made The Difference
The Bananas outscored the Party Animals 2-0 in the fifth inning, stretching their lead to 2-0 in game points. Their defense then delivered in the sixth, allowing just enough to protect the margin and secure a third point for the night.
As the 2-hour clock ran down in the eighth inning, both teams knew the final frame would decide everything. Unlike the earlier innings, every run in the eighth counted as a point, which gave the Party Animals one last chance to chase the win.
The Bananas opened the inning with three runs, pushing their total to 6 points. The Party Animals needed seven runs to win, but the Bananas limited them to three runs and no more.
Both teams are set to return to Autzen to close out Banana Ball in Eugene on Sunday, June 28 at 1 p.m.