By Josh Miller
PALM SPRINGS, CA—The POWER staged a thrilling comeback against division leading Team San Diego winning 4-3 in the bottom of the tenth inning.
With one out in the tenth, after a leadoff walk by Charlie Madden (Mercer), Scotty Burcham (Sacramento State) lined a double down the right field line to bring in the winning run.
“I was looking for a fastball over the plate, and I got it, and I’m happy to come through for my teammates and beat a good team tonight,” Burcham said after the game.
Alex Mistuloff (Chico State) picked up his second win of the season going the last four innings and only allowing one hit.
Austin Lord (Mercer) took over in the second inning after starter Bill Olson (Arkansas Pine-Bluff) was injured after being hit by a line drive.
Lord went five innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on eight hits and five strikeouts.
Team San Diego was on the board in the first inning after Collin Nyenhuis (Master’s College) tripled home Manny Cardeiro (Cal State San Marcos).
The POWER tied the game in the bottom of the inning after a throwing error by San Diego catcher Rolando Sanchez allowed Hayden Nielsen (BYU) to score.
Team San Diego tacked on two more in the fourth inning after Cardeiro scored on a wild pitch and Jacob Carrera (Mission College) laid down a beautiful bunt with the bases loaded scoring Nyenhuis.
San Diego starter Randy Wynne (Missouri Baptist) was electric until running into trouble in the eighth inning.
After a one-out double by Madden, West Tunnell (Baylor) singled up the middle only to have centerfielder Justin Webb (NE Oklahoma A&M) gun down Madden at the plate.
Burcham then singled, and a throwing error by Webb allowed the pinch runner Nick King (Georgia) to score the second run of the game for the POWER.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jordan Zimmerman (Mesa CC) singled with one out, then Zach Sterry (Oakland) doubled, but Zimmerman ran through the hold-up sign at third and was thrown out at the plate.
With two outs, Mitch Bluman (San Diego State), normally a pitcher who pinch-hit back in the seventh inning, laced a single into centerfield bring home Sterry and tying the ballgame.
In the tenth inning, after Mistuloff retired San Diego in order, Scotty Burcham did the rest with his walk-off double.
The POWER are now tied with Team San Diego atop the SCCBL standings.
The POWER play again tomorrow night against ATH Academy, with the first pitch at 7:05.
It is also dollar admission and First Responders night at the ballpark so we hope to see you there.
