AHRENS PINCH SINGLE PRODUCES SPLIT

Lancaster Bounces Back after First Game Loss

Kevin Ahrens launched a tiebreaking single off the right field wall as a sixth inning pinch hitter, leading the Lancaster Barnstormers to a 4-2 victory over the Long Island Ducks in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday night at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Long Island won the opener, 5-2, behind six strong innings from knuckleballing lefty Danny Herrera.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Blake Gailen lashed a double into the alley in left center field. Ahrens was brought off the bench to bat for Dean Wilson. He sent a pitch from Kyle Hanson (1-2) high off the wall in right field, clearing Fehlandt Lentini. Gailen raced around to score on the base hit, snapping a 2-2 tie. Ahrens moved up on a ground out. Yusuke Kajimoto walked, and Trayvon Robinson lined a single into right to load the bases. Caleb Gindl rolled a grounder into the hole on the right side. Carlos Hughes made a diving stop but could not get off a throw as Ahrens scored on an infield single. Kajimoto was thrown out at the plate, also trying to score on the play.

K.C. Hobson slugged a two-run homer over the tents in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead. Long Island came back with a run without a base hit in the third. Matt Wessinger led off with a walk, moved up on a bunt, went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Hughes lined out to deep right field.

Singles by Delta Cleary, Jr. and Lew Ford along with a force play grounder by Dan Lyons tied the game in the top of the sixth off Pete Andrelczyk (7-2).

Earlier, Herrera (1-1) checked Lancaster on six hits and two runs over six innings. The Ducks staked him to a 3-0 lead against Connor Root (0-3) over the first three innings. Mike Dowd drove home Ford with a sacrifice fly to center in the second inning, and Cleary added a sacrifice fly to left to drive home Wessinger in the third. Ford made it 3-0 beating out a soft liner that died in front of second base.

Hobson lined a home run onto the deck for Lancaster’s first run, but Dowd broke the game open with a bases loaded single in the top of the sixth.

Justin Jackson (2-1) will take the hill for the Barnstormers on Wednesday evening against right-hander Nick Struck (2-3). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:45.

NOTES: Hobson climbed to within two of the league home run lead with 19…He has homered in back-to-back games five times on the season…He has hit five homers in six games on the homestand…Andrelczyk recorded his 21st win as a Barnstormer, making him the fifth leading winner in franchise history…He broke a tie with Josh Hall…Hito Fujie allowed two hits and a run in three innings as the starter for the second time in four days….Ahrens is 24-for-55 (.436) against Long Island on the year.