PALM SPRINGS, CA – Brooks Kriske shined on the mound outdueling Will Oliver as the POWER (24-4) edged the San Diego Force 1-0 on Independence Day at Palm Springs Stadium.
Kriske (USC) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three batters en route to his third win of the season.
The POWER plated the only run of the game in the sixth. Right-fielder Nate Pollock (Western Illinois) kicked the inning off with a single up the middle. An errant pickoff throw moved Pollock up to second base before a bunt single by Charlie Madden (Mercer) put runners on the corners with nobody out. Zach Sterry (Oakland) would then ground into a double play to bring home Pollock.
That would be all the runs the Palm Springs bullpen would need as they finished the job for Kriske in the eighth and ninth.
Reliever Nick Medeiros (Santa Clara) started the eighth inning, retiring the first batter he faced before allowing back-to-back singles to Zac Israel and Tim Williams. Austin Lord (Mercer) was called in and induced the inning-ending double play on just one pitch to get out of the jam.
The POWER pitching staff has now allowed just one run in their last 35 innings pitched.
Doug Finley (CSU Pueblo) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the summer.
The POWER and Force (21-4) wrap up their two-game series tomorrow as Jesse Bristow (3-0) takes the mound for Palm Springs. First pitch is at 7:05.
