The Palm Springs POWER found themselves in an unfamiliar spot Saturday night. Less than 24 hours after demolishing the Riverside Rebels 27-3, the POWER trailed the same Rebels 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning at Palm Springs Stadium.
Rebels starting pitcher Adam Quintana, who had silenced the POWER bats through the first six innings, lost all control and walked the bases loaded. Reagan Fowler bounced into a fielder’s choice that brought in one run, and Jake Howeth would score the tying run on a passed ball by Rebels catcher Adam Turpin. T.J. Bennett then singled home Fowler, chasing Quintana from the game. Bennett would ultimately score on a wild pitch by reliever Jake Battaglia, staking Palm Springs to a 5-3 lead.
Jackson McClelland was entrusted with the lead and did not disappoint. He struck out the side in the eighth inning, allowing only a two-out single. McClelland recorded the first two outs in the ninth inning, but was removed after surrendering a single to the Rebels Joey Szczepanski. Reliever Pete Reyes entered and got Rebels first baseman Joe Battaglia to fly out with the tying runs on base to end the game. Reyes earned his second save of the season, and the POWER advanced to 7-0 with the 5-3 victory.
To start the game, the Rebels showed no ill effects of their crushing defeat the previous day. Chase Phillips singled with one out in the fourth inning and advanced to second base when Jeff Ricker walked. Phillips then stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Szczepanski to give Riverside a 1-0 lead.
The POWER would tie things up in the bottom of the fourth inning when Fowler led off with a single and took second base on a passed ball. With two outs, Tyler Truitt doubled him home to knot the game 1-1.
The Rebels would go back ahead in the sixth inning. After tripling to lead off the frame, Battaglia would score on a Randy Castro sacrifice fly. Riverside pushed the lead to 3-1 in the top of the seventh on an RBI triple by Jeff Ricker, setting the stage for the POWER comeback.
Keaton Hernandez (1-0) received the win in relief, tossing 1 2/3 innings. POWER starter Ryan Harper lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out eight.
The POWER return to the diamond Sunday to take on the Orange County Waves. The first 200 fans through the gates will receive a free POWER backpack. The game can be heard on pspbb.com and live on Team 1010 KXPS.
