Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (26-34, 62-64) climbed out of a sizeable hole early and stayed one step ahead of the Lake Elsinore Storm (23-37, 62-64) late, closing out a 16-13 victory in the series finale on Sunday at Morongo Field.
Lake Elsinore rallied for seven runs in the top of the second, establishing a comfortable lead right away. However, the Quakes nullified it over their next two turns at bat. They put up a three-spot on a wild pitch, a double play, and a Jaxon Willits RBI single in their half of the inning, creeping back within striking distance. One frame later, John Wimmer drew a bases-loaded walk, Gabriel Davalillo scored on a passed ball, Anyelo Marquez chipped in an RBI base hit, and Wimmer came around to score on an error, leveling the score at seven apiece.
The offenses went silent in the fourth inning, but Rancho Cucamonga roared back to life in the fifth. Wimmer connected on a solo home run, capping off the comeback and handing the Quakes an 8-7 advantage.
Rancho Cucamonga kept up the momentum in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together another four runs. Following a Jonathan Linares leadoff walk, Willits brought him home on a double. Angel Arredondo then lined a single to send Willits in, and Gavin Grahovac laced an RBI triple to the right-center field gap, racing the Quakes ahead 12-7 heading into the game’s back third.
Lake Elsinore, though, refused to go down without a fight. Their lineup caught fire in the late innings, using a Joe Tiroly run-scoring base hit in the seventh and a three-run outburst in the eighth to lower their deficit to one.
With the outcome hanging in the balance, Rancho Cucamonga refused to let the Storm get any closer. A balk allowed pinch-runner T.J. Ford to cross the plate and rebuild their multi-run cushion, and RBI base hits from Linares and Jeffery Heard created even more breathing room, taking a 16-11 edge into the final inning.
Tiroly connected on a solo home run, and Nu’u Contrades produced a run-scoring single to pull the Storm back within three, placing the tying run to the batter’s box. Nevertheless, the Quakes navigated through Lake Elsinore’s final push. Brayan Vergara emerged from the bullpen to induce a groundout, locking down the dramatic victory.
The Quakes head to ONT Field to begin their final series of the 2026 season against the Ontario Tower Buzzers on Tuesday at 6:35 PM.