San Diego Force Baseball

One Run Away

Cassidy Thornburg | July 1, 2019

Palm Springs, Ca- The San Diego Force came really close to beating the Palm Springs Power, but came up short and still remain 11 games behind the undefeated powerhouse. 

It all started with a single off the 0-2 count by leadoff hitter, DJ Lewis (U of Cumberlands). Sam Neufeld (Vanguard) hit a single to follow that moved Lewis to second. Lewis stole for third and was brought home by a Ryan Williams (Cal Baptist) SAC-fly. This gave the Force the first run of the game with only an out. 

Though off to a good start, an error in the bottom of the first allowed the Power to put one up and match the Force 1-1. This trend continued through the second with each team putting up a run to keep the game tied up. Tables turned in the bottom of the third when starting pitcher Tyler Van Stone (Hawai'i Pacific) had three runs against, two of them earned. With no runs in the top, the bottom of the fourth just brought more damage. The Power put up another four, leaving the Force trailing 9-2 going into the top of the fifth. 

Not letting a seven-run difference deter them, the Force rallied a comeback. An RBI-single by Williams to score Colin Freeman (Cuesta College) followed by a double-RBI Double by Cole Mueller (UCSB) to score both Neufeld and Williams put a consecutive three on the board. Mueller got the chance to walk across the plate and get some high-fives of his own when Anthony Hall (Undecided) hit an RBI-single. The score was now 9-6. 

Van Stone finished out his time on the mound strong in the bottom of the fifth by holding off any more runs. Hooper Mills (East Tennessee State) closed the game with a three-inning shutout, allowing the Force’s offense a chance to win it. 

Like Baker Springstun flying around the bases, the Force ran at it with everything they had, putting two up in the eighth, to come as close to beating the Power as any team has this season, one run away. 

The Force will return to play after the holiday, Happy Fourth of July!