BARNSTORMERS FALL IN EXTRAS

Sundberg Single Decides Game in 10^th

For the second straight night, the Lancaster Barnstormers and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs went into the ninth inning tied.

The second time around, Southern Maryland’s defense came through, and the Blue Crabs defeated the Barnstormers, 3-2, in 10 innings.

With Staten Island dropping a decision at Spire City, the three teams are back into a first place tie in the North.  York trails by two, pending the outcome of a game at High Point.

Khalil Lee staked the Blue Crabs to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a single to left off Brent Teller.  Lancaster answered on Andretty Cordero’s two-run homer, a liner to left center in the top of the sixth.

Then, the games really began.

Lancaster loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh off starter McKenzie Mills.  Southern Maryland replaced Mills with Jacques Pucheu.  The lefty reliever went to 3-1 on Melvin Mercedes, got a called strike at the letters, then struck out the Lancaster second baseman on a high fastball.

Teller, meanwhile, continued to dominate.  The Lancaster starter did not allow another hit after the third inning single by Lee, tossing no-hit ball for 6 2/3 innings.

Trayvon Robinson opened the tenth inning at second base.  Jack Conley barely missed getting a bunt into fair territory before shooting a grounder to the hole at shortstop.  Michael Baca made a diving stop, then fired to cut down Robinson at third.  Trace Loehr floated a single into right center, and Conley took third on an error by Braxton Lee.  Bruce Rondon (1-1) coaxed Mercedes to ground into a double play to close out the threat.

Isaias Quiroz did get the bunt down in the bottom of the tenth.  Lancaster intentionally walked Baca, but Jack Sundberg singled off Mercedes’ glove in the right side hole to produce the game winner off Zach Warren (1-4).

Lancaster will send Jared Lakind (7-3) to the mound on Sunday afternoon against right-hander Liam O’Sullivan (7-2, 9-4).  Fans may tune into the stream on FloBaseball, beginning at 2:00.

NOTES:  Teller became the first Barnstormer to throw nine innings this season…He allowed four hits and two walks while also hitting two…It was his fifth consecutive quality start and his 10^th of the season…Cordero broke out of a two-game slump with three hits…He has 88 RBI on the season and 206 as a Barnstormer over two years…Lancaster had the leadoff man on base in six different innings without advancing him.