PALM SPRINGS, CA- Jumpei Akanuma (COD) stymied So Cal Catch batters and scattered seven hits over five innings en route to an opening night win as the POWER knocked off the Catch, 11-3.
Willie Bourbon (Northwestern) drove in the season’s first run when he lined a single into right field scoring Ryan Mota (Riverside). Bronson Grubbs (Sac State), Kobie Foppe (South Mtn.) and Gilbert Sauceda (CSU Pueblo) followed with run-scoring hits of their own to make it a 4-0 POWER lead after two innings.
“I was out here having fun,” said Ryan Mota. “It was the first game of summer ball. We just wanted to have fun and win.”
So Cal answered with three runs in the top of the fifth highlighted by Caleb Potter’s two-run single.
The POWER plated three more in the fifth inning when John Mauldin (BRCC), who doubled earlier, crushed a pitch into right field for an rbi triple that scored Brock Hale (BYU). Willie Bourbon added his second RBI of the game and Foppe was credited with an RBI on a base on balls to make it 7-3 POWER after five innings of play.
Mota extended the POWER lead to six with a two-run double high off the left field wall in a lengthy sixth inning.
“We were out there trying to hit the ball where it was pitched and give our pitchers run support,” said Mota.
Foppe, Sauceda, Mota, Bourbon and Grubbs each drove in more than one run in the ballgame.
The POWER tacked on another run and the Catch weren’t able to make a comeback in the first game of the series.
Palm Springs hosts the So Cal Catch again tomorrow night at 7:05 on Kid’s Night at the ballpark. All kids 12 & under get in to the ballpark for just $2.
2016 Palm Springs POWER Schedule and Ticket Info
