Small Ball Sunday: Power win 5-4

(Rome, GA- July 27, 2014)- The West Virginia Power edged the Rome Braves 5-4 on Sunday at State Mutual Stadium. With the game tied at four in the top of the ninth, Reese McGuire drove in Austin Meadows with a sacrifice fly to help the Power win their third straight.

The Power captured an early lead against Tyler Brosius with a run in the first. Michael Fransoso walked to lead off the game and scored on a single from Edwin Espinal. After Rome evened the score in the bottom of the first, West Virginia moved back in front with a run-scoring ground out by Jeff Roy. 

The Braves again evened the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a Johan Camargo base hit to bring in Conner Lien. In the Power half of the sixth, Wyatt Mathisen doubled in Espinal and McGuire for a 4-2 lead. Mathisen, playing for the first time in a month, went 2-4 in his return from the Disabled List. Rome scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at four.

After two scoreless innings from each bullpen, Meadows singled with one out in the ninth and moved to third on a single by Espinal. McGuire drove a fly ball to center field that brought in the eventual winning run.

Luis Heredia worked six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Henry Hirsch (2-4) pitched two innings behind Heredia and earned the win. Clario Perez allowed a walk and a single in the ninth before recording the final out for his first save of the season. Pete Perez (0-4) pitched the final two innings for Rome and was charged with the loss.

West Virginia collected 15 hits for the second straight game and had at least one hit in every inning. Meadows and Espinal paced the offense with three hits each as the Power bested the Braves for a third straight game in the season series by one run.

West Virginia and Rome continue this four game series on Monday evening at State Mutual Stadium. First pitch is slated for 7:00 pm.