Alisha Alexander - Director of Baseball Operations

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - In the last matchup of the regular season, the SoCal Bombers split a double header with the San Diego Force after dropping game one 11-4 before winning game two 6-5.

Game One: Bombers – 4 SD Force – 11

The Force got things started quickly in their half of the first inning as leadoff man Carl Schwettman went deep to start off the game.  They kept the offense going in the top of the second, striking for three more on four singles.

The Bombers answered back in the bottom of the second as Conner Shepherd led off with a single to right.  He came around to score from first on an RBI double from Daniel Moriel as the Bombers cut the deficit to 4-2.

Starter Dallas Burk settled in over the next few innings for the Bombers, as he struck out the side in both the third and fourth innings.

The Force had a big inning in the top of the seventh, putting up a five spot to increase their lead to 9-2.

The Bombers attempted to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the seventh as Sam Medina was hit by a pitch and Aaron Meers drew a walk to put the first two runners on.  Joey Magro singled to load the bases before Eric Mendez singled to knock in a run.  Jimmy Smith walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run, but that was all the Bombers could muster.

Game Two: Bombers – 6 SD Force – 5

The Force was, again, the team to strike first in game two of the double header.  The first run came across in the top of the second but Cody White held the Force to just this one run in his three innings of work.  He racked up four strikeouts in his outing.

The Bombers answered back in the bottom of the third, beginning with Meers reaching on an error on a hard hit ball to second.  Sam Medina singled next before Magro doubled to bring in both runners and put the Bombers up 2-1.  Ryon Knowles singled to move Magro into scoring position.  Back-to-back RBI hits from Smith and Shepherd extended the lead to 4-1.

San Diego scored two more in the top of the fifth off reliever Logan Frye who was then replaced with Dylan Simcik who shut down the Force over the next few innings.

Leading 4-3, the Bombers looked to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth as Smith led off the inning with a double to left.  He took third on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly from White brought him in to score.

The Force rallied back in their half of the eighth inning and Simcik turned the ball over to Andrew Miner.  Simcik finished his day with five strikeouts in three and a third innings pitched.

With the score tied at five a piece in the bottom of the eighth, Knowles reached after being hit by a pitch to lead off for the Bombers.  Smith came to the plate next and forced an error by the shortstop, allowing Knowles to score the go-ahead run.

Miner went back out to the mound to close out the game in the top of the ninth, striking out the last two batters to seal the victory for the Bombers.

The Bombers take a break from SCCBL play on Friday as they play a non-conference game against the Imperial Valley Rise at home.  The game will be played at La Sierra at 1:00 p.m.