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On Sunday night, the surging 20-12 Lincoln Potters took on the Menlo Park Legends in a non-league game. Recently, the Potters had won three straight and outscored their opponents by 27 across the three games.

Looking to sweep their season series with the Legends after winning their first four games against the team, the Potters entrusted Toran O’Harran (Stanford University) with his first start this Summer. In one previous outing this Summer, O’Harran struck out two batters in one inning without allowing a baserunner. 

Through the first two innings, O’Harran tripled his season strikeout total while only allowing a baserunner per inning. Chase Weissenborn (University of New Mexico) struck first for the Potters, scoring on a passed ball in the second inning after reaching on a double.

O’Harran was eventually replaced by Logan Bell (Bowling Green State University) in the fourth inning after only allowing one hit all day. Bell only pitched the fourth but maintained the Potters’ 1-0 lead, striking out two in the process. This was likely Bell’s final game this Summer. “My time in Lincoln has meant everything to me,” Bell said while reminiscing on his past with the Potters. 

A scoreless inning is one thing, but what Bell really wanted in his final game was a Potters’ win. Grant Kelly (College of Southern Nevada) and Devin Marton (University of Nevada) continued the Potters’ streak of scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth and the Potters were finally able to extend their lead again in the sixth. Payton Brennan (UCLA) scored on a wild pitch to extend the Potters’ lead to two. Through six, the teams totaled only six hits and 15 strikeouts combined.

Justin Still (University of New Mexico) struck out three in a scoreless top of the seventh but the Potters failed once again to add any insurance for the Potters’ bullpen. Eric Vasser (Sacramento City College) entered in the eighth and immediately ran into trouble. He allowed three runs on three hits in the inning and the Potters now trailed with six outs remaining. 

At least, everyone thought the Potters would have six outs remaining. Instead, the offense immediately picked up Vasser in the eighth. Head coach, Jon Peters looked to the bench for four straight pinch hitters to open the inning. The first three all reached base safely and the last tied the game with a sacrifice fly. 

Luke Odden (Georgia Southern University) then walked for the third time in five plate appearances to reload the bases before Zach Chamizo (UC Riverside) cleared them with one swing of the bat. Chamizo barreled into second base standing up with a 3 RBI double to retake the lead for the Potters’ late. 

Now leading by three, the Potters looked to Chamizo’s college teammate, Vincent Cicolello (UC Riverside), to record the final three outs in a save situation. Cicolello struck out two in the inning and finalized the Potters’ fourth win in four days. The Potters will have an opportunity to win their fifth straight game on the Fourth of July at McBean Stadium when the Bay Area Admirals come to town. Last Sunday, the Potters and Admirals split a doubleheader at Solano College.