BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Nick Roberts started things off well enough for the Bend Elks on Saturday night, leading off the game with a single.

But the Elks did not get another hit until the eighth inning, finished with just three hits for the game, and lost 8-0 to the Bellingham Bells.

The setback in the opener of a three-game series was the seventh straight loss for the Elks, who remain in last place in the West Coast League’s South Division for the season’s second half. The losing streak is tied for Bend’s longest this season; the Elks also dropped seven straight in mid-June.

Chris Diehl and Alex Pallios added singles for Bend in the fourth game of a six-game road trip.

Elks starter Mikey Hooper struck out four batters over 41⁄3 innings, but he also allowed five runs on eight hits while issuing five walks as his record dropped to 1-3. Ian Nowak was a bright spot on the mound for Bend, working two innings of no-hit, shutout relief with a strikeout.

For Bellingham, Jordan Stoner was 4-for-5 and scored three runs, and Zach Needham hit a solo home run in the Bells’ three-run fifth inning.

—Bulletin staff report