Storm smite 'Hide on Night of Fellowship

LAKE ELSINORE, CA - Sometimes a higher power makes its presence known in ways you won't find in a holy book. Tonight, in front of 6,096 fans on Night of Fellowship, that power, along with a 3 for 4 night from Gabriel Quintana and a sterling, albeit injury-shortened, outing from Ronald Herrera, guided the Lake Elsinore Storm to a 3-1 win over the Visalia Rawhide.

Herrera and Rawhide starter R.J. Hively traded zeroes for the first three frames, but it was The Eyes who would smite the opposing hurler in the fourth. Storm newcomer Nick Torres delivered a one out double, scoring two batters later when Quintana hit his first of two doubles on the night.

The night continued in divine fashion for Herrera until he was forced to leave the game due to injury with a runner on and two outs in the sixth. On came Jason Jester (W, 1-0), who was victimized by a quality at-bat from Jamie Westbrook that plated the lone Visalia run. The former Texas A&M Aggie struck out the next hitter to end the threat and keep the game tied at one.

It wouldn't stay that way for long. Lake Elsinore answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two out RBI single from Quintana that made it 3-1.

Jester and Chris Nunn (S, 1) took over from there. They blanked the 'Hide through the final three frames to secure a much-needed home victory.

Nick Torres and Gabriel Quintana led the way for the Storm. The former went 2 for 4 with a run scored, while the latter paced the offense with a 3 for 4, two RBI performance. Auston Bousfield and Ricardo Valenzuela each had a hit, the only other starters to record a knock on the night.

Ronald Herrera's final line: 5.2 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 6 K.

With the win, Lake Elsinore (6-15/37-54) avoids a sweep at the hands of Visalia (15-6/57-34) and will begin a four-game road trip to Modesto on a positive note.

That series begins tomorrow night at John Thurman Field, where Rafael De Paula (5-7, 5.18 ERA) will oppose Antonio Senzatela (5-5, 5.23 ERA) in a South-North California League match-up. First pitch is set for 7:05pm and can be heard LIVE on 94.5 KMYT or online via iHeartRadio.com.