PALM SPRINGS, CA – The POWER (11-0, 3-0) passed their first test of the season Friday night, rallying their way past the Inland Valley Pirates (1-1, 1-1) in 12 innings, 6-5.
Jared Theisen singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the twelfth and Mark Seyler pitched two flawless innings in relief to earn his first win of the season.
The POWER scored the game’s first run in the fourth inning, taking advantage of miscues by Inland Valley. T.J. Bennett struck out swinging but reached first base on a wild pitch, then stole second and third base. After Austin Barrett walked, Anthony Torres hit a groundball that third-baseman A.J. David bobbled to allow Bennett to score.
The Pirates responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead, 3-1, and chase starter Ryan Harper.
With Palm Springs still trailing in the eighth, 4-3, Bennett led off the inning with a single and stole second. Ryan Jones followed by lacing a double down the left-field line to tie the game. Jones moved to third on a groundball from Torres and scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by Antonio Chavarria.
Inland Valley rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth, but the POWER were not done fighting.
After scoreless frames in the tenth and eleventh, Jones walked to start off the bottom of the twelfth. C.J. Reed bunted him to second and Reagan Fowler walked to set the stage for Theisen. With a two-strike count, Theisen pulled a single through the right side to score Jones and send the POWER players spilling out of the dugout in celebration.
The POWER and the Pirates will play again on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Saturday is Kids Day, meaning all fans 12 and under get in for $2. Fans that can’t make it to the game can tune in online at pspbb.com.
