Power surge lifts Vikings over Desert

PALM DESERT - The Barstow Vikings bats came alive at the right time to pull out a split against College of the Desert on Saturday.

After dropping the first game 18-5, Barstow scored 10 runs in the 8th inning of the second game to win 20-10.

"It was a strange day in how we played," said coach Tim Syrek. "We get blown out in the first game and to respond the way we did was impressive and confusing. We need to play both games with the same intensity."

College of the Desert had 17 hits in the first game and made a loser of pitcher Lindsey Crane. Annemarie Hernandez and Julianna Montano each had two RBI in the loss.

The second game Barstow scored four runs in the first inning, before COD added two in each of the first two winnings. The Vikings pushed the lead to 10-5 heading into the 7th inning. The Roadrunners scored five in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

"It would have been easy to cave in with the pressure, but Cheyenne Porcella made a nice running catch in center to stop their rally," Syrek said. 

After an initial out in the 8th, the next nine Vikings reached base. Barstow had a season high 10 runs in the inning. Melissa Galindo reached base six times and Inayalena Paopao scored five runs in the game. Daisha Mitchell had three hits including a triple in the 8th. Hernandez and Alyssa Avalos each added three RBI. Crane went the distance to pick up the decision.

"We had a couple of players battling injuries and a couple missing due to family reasons, but the way the team dug in for the second game was impressive," Syrek added. "We just need to be more consistent."