PALM SPRINGS, Calif.- For the second time in as many outings, Jumpei Akanuma was outstanding on the mound. He fanned eight batters and limited the Seals to two hits in seven-plus efficient innings.
The righty from College of the Desert pitched into the eighth inning and reliever Gabriel Gentner (Cal State LA) struck out five of the six batters he faced for the save.
Despite scoring 10 runs in three of their five wins so far this season, the POWER faced two great pitchers in Miguel Villafane and Connor McLaughlin and, as a result, Palm Springs was limited to a season-low two runs. It proved to be enough as the only run posted by San Francisco was off of a sacrifice bunt by Dakota Connors to score Tioghe Koerning in the second inning.
Willie Bourbon scored off a Ryan Mota RBI double in the fourth and Cole Danielson scored off David Posas’ two-bagger in the fifth. Those were the only two runs scored on the night for the POWER who still squeezed out a thrilling victory.
The best play of the game came in the top of the seventh when the Seals had men at first and second down 2-1 with two outs. Tioghe Koerning attempted to score from second off of Dakota Connors’s left field poke but the run was thwarted by Posas (Mercer). He gunned down the runner trying to score to preserve the lead.
Palm Springs proceeded to shut the Seals out for the last two innings, winning the first of a two-game series.
The POWER are now 5-1 on the season and look forward to hosting San Francisco again tomorrow at 7:05 on Family Night where kids 12 and under get in for just two dollars.
