PALM SPRINGS – The POWER (27-3, 12-2) bashed their way out of an early hole on Saturday, as they beat the Heat, 14-5, to sweep the season series.
Blake Estep earned the win in relief, throwing four scoreless innings with five strikeouts to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Palm Springs got offensive production from everywhere in the order. Brett Sullivan went 4-for-6 with three RBIs, Michael Massi had a 2-for-4 night with an RBI and T.J. Bennett also picked up two RBIs on the day. Ryan Raslowsky also had a strong, yet brief, performance, as he hit a pinch-hit, three-run shot in the sixth inning for his first home run of the year.
Jackson McClelland started for the POWER and scuffled his way through five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks along the way. The big blow came in the fourth when Jack Collingsworth tripled to centerfield with the bases loaded. McClelland would escape the frame but not before the Heat had claimed a 5-1 lead.
Palm Springs answered with a run in the fourth inning on Sullivan’s RBI-double to make it 5-2, before the offense went to work in the sixth. Austin Barrett led off with a double, moved to third on a throwing error and scored on Eric Urry’s RBI-groundout. Massi singled and scored on Sullivan’s base hit. Bennett then delivered an RBI-single to score Sullivan and tie the game.
With the score standing at 6-5 with two on and two out, Raslowsky was sent up to face Justin Soma, fresh out of the bullpen. The infielder worked the count to 3-1 and then turned on a fastball and deposited it over the wall in left field to give the POWER a 9-5 advantage.
Palm Springs padded its edge in the eighth with five runs on five hits, with Barrett picking up an RBI-single and Massi delivering an RBI-double in the frame.
The POWER are back in action on Sunday when they welcome the East LA Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Remember, Sunday is giveaway day with the first 200 fans in attendance receiving Palm Springs POWER sunglasses. Fans that cannot make it to the game can catch all the action on pspbb.com.