Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne advance to the second round behind a pair of brilliant pitching performances. Nick Vincent and Miles Mikolas slam the door with 5 K’s in the final 2 innings to nail down a Missions win.

San Antonio Missions 5, Frisco Rough Riders 3
Blake Tekotte-CF: 1-3, BB, Run scored, Stolen base (37)
Jaff Decker-LF: 2-5, 2 RBI, K
Jedd Gyorko-3B: 1-5, 2b, RBI, K
Vince Belnome-2B:  0-3, BB, K
Cody Decker-1B: 2-4, 2 HR (15), K
Dean Anna-SS: 3-4, 2b, 2 Runs scored, K
Casey Kelly-SP: 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 4 BB, 2 ER, 2 K’s
Nick Vincent-RP: 1.0 IP, 3 K’s
Miles Mikolas-RP: 1.0 IP, 2 K’s, Save (11)

Notes: The two teams took a 2-2 tie into the 7th inning and each team scored, leaving a 3-3 tie to be settled in the final two innings. The Storm would score in each of those innings; Jaff Decker would follow Dean Anna’s leadoff double with an RBI single in the 9th, and Cody Decker hit his solo shot of the game in the 8th. After missing most of the second half with a badly sprained ankle, Cody Decker has become a key addition to the Storm lineup, batting .364 in the playoffs.

Lake Elsinore Storm 10, Inland Empire 66’ers 2
Reymond Fuentes-CF: 2-4, BB, 2b, 2 RBI, Run scored, K
Nate Freiman-1B: 2-4, BB, 2b, HR (24), 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, K
Edinson Rincon-3B: 1-2, BB, Run scored
Eddy Rodriguez-C: 2-4, HR (9), 2 RBI, K
Tommy Medica-DH: 3-5, 2 runs scored
Jake Blackwood-RF: 2-5, 2b, Run scored, 2 K’s
Jonathan Galvez-2B: 3-5, Run scored, 2 K’s
Jose De Paula-SP: 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 3 K’s

Notes: Tommy Medica, Nate Freiman, and Eddy Rodriguez went 3 through 5 in the lineup, respectively, and ignited The Storm offense in the rubber match of a 3 game playoff series. They combined for 7 hits, 2 homers, 5 runs scored, and 6 RBI. Jose De Paula dominated the Inland Empire offense, needing fewer than 90 pitches to complete his 7 innings of shutout baseball.

Fort Wayne Tincaps 5, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1
Rico Noel-CF: 0-5
Cory Spangenberg-2B: 2-5, 2b, 2 runs scored
Rymer Liriano-RF: 3-4, 2 RBI, Run scored, 2 stolen bases (66)
Luis Domoromo-LF: 3-4, 2b, HR (13)
Wes Cunningham-DH: 1-4, 2b, Run scored, 2 K’s
Rocky Gale-C: 1-4, 2b, RBI, 2 K’s
Mark Hardy-SP: 8.0 IP, 4 hits, 7 K’s

Notes:  Both Cory Spangenberg and Rymer Liriano both hit over .500 in the rain shortened 3-game series against Bowling Green. Lefty Mark Hardy absolutely mowed down the Bowling Green offense, allowing only 4 hits in 8 innings with 7 K’s. From the 3rd inning to the 7th inning he did not allow a baserunner.