Late Surge Seals Series in Perth

PERTH, Australia — Owen Cobb drove in two runs and the Perth Heat scored three times in the seventh inning to pull away for a 7–5 victory over the Brisbane Bandits on Sunday afternoon at NSR Hire Ballpark, clinching the four-game series 3–1.

The win lifted Perth to 14–16 on the season, while Brisbane fell to 13–18.

Brisbane struck first in the opening inning when Rixon Wingrove singled to right to score Max Durrington, but the Heat answered immediately in the bottom half. Cobb doubled home Cayden Nicoletto to tie the game, Tim Kennelly followed with an RBI double and Drake Logan added an RBI single as Perth built a 3–1 lead.

The Bandits responded in the second when Kyosuke Mashiko launched a two-run homer to center field, tying the game at 3. Brisbane edged back in front in the fifth on Wingrove’s sacrifice fly, then took a 5–4 lead in the sixth when Logan Wade homered to right-center.

Perth tied it again in the fifth on Nicandro Aybar’s RBI single, then broke through decisively in the seventh. Cobb doubled to score Alex Hall and knot the game at 5, Aybar followed with a go-ahead RBI single, and Logan capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 7–5.

Jordan Power (3–0) earned the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit while striking out three. Warwick Saupold worked a scoreless ninth for his fifth save. Matt Beattie (1–3) took the loss after allowing three runs without recording an out in the seventh.

Mashiko went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for Brisbane, while Durrington doubled and tripled. Cobb finished 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Perth, and Aybar drove in two runs before exiting in the seventh.

The Bandits will return home next weekend to host the Adelaide Giants in a three-game series at Viticon Stadium from Jan. 8–10.