BARNSTORMERS GAIN SPLIT IN WILD NIGHTCAP

Conley Steal of Home Plays Role in Win

A seven-run lead got away from the Lancaster Barnstormers in the second game of Thursday night’s doubleheader at Lexington.

Then, in a frantic eighth inning, the Barnstormers pulled out an 11-9 victory over the host Counter Clocks to gain a split of the doubleheader.  Earlier, Lexington slugged a pair of third inning home runs en route to an uncomplicated 4-1 win.

The Barnstormers had built an 8-1 lead through 5 ½ innings in the second game on the strength of a five-run fourth and Ariel Sandoval’s two-run single in the top of the sixth.

Bret Clarke, who had shut down the Counter Clocks for the first five innings, went back out for a sixth.  Connor Owings started the inning with a solid single to right.  Thomas Dillard drew a walk, and J.C. Encarnacion lined a three-run homer to left.  Mike Adams took over and retired the side in order, cooling off the Counter Clocks but only briefly.

Chris Brady opened the ninth with a single through the left side off Andrew Lee.  Brandt Broussard followed with a single to center, and Ronnie Dawson loaded the bases on a sinking liner to right that was trapped by Joseph Carpenter.  Owings grounded into a force out at second, driving home one.  Lee rebounded to strike out Dillard looking on a 3-2 pitch, but Encarnacion lofted a deep fly to left that carried out for his second home run, tying the game at 8-8.  Andrew Moritz walked before lefty Zach Warren came in to retire pinch hitter Jesus Tavarez on a grounder to first, sending the game to extra innings.

In the eighth, with Trace Loehr at second as the “ghost” runner, Jack Conley pinch hit for Marshall Rich and popped a bunt toward the third base line.  Lincoln Hentzman (0-2) came up short on a dive, giving Lancaster runners at first and third.  A wild pitch scored Loehr, and Conley took third on a sacrifice by Melvin Mercedes.  With Andretty Cordero batting, Conley timed a lob throw back to the mound by Brady and bolted for home, easily stealing the plate.

One out later, Ariel Sandoval cranked his second homer of the series to left center for an 11-8 lead.

Warren (1-0) allowed the ghost runner, Moritz, to score on an infield single and a ground out in the bottom of the inning but struck out Dawson to end the game, securing the win.

In the opener, a makeup game from June 7 in Lancaster, the Barnstormers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Loehr that scored Carpenter.  Lexington responded quickly in the top of the third.  Broussard doubled to left center and rode home on a home run to right by Ronnie Dawson.  Dillard added a homer later in the inning.

Sittinger (3-5) allowed a fourth run on a fielder’s choice in the fifth inning before eventually throwing the first complete game of the season by a Barnstormer.

Merandy Gonzalez (2-2) allowed four hits and a run in five innings to earn the win.

Lancaster heads to Charleston to open a four-game series against the Dirty Birds Friday at 6:35.  Brent Teller (4-3) will make the start against lefty Danny Wirchansky (1-2).  Fans may view the game on FloBaseball, beginning at 6:30.

NOTES:  Wilson Garcia hit safely in both ends of the doubleheader, extending his streak to 11 games…Yeison Coca also had four hits in the twinbill, including a bases-loaded double in the fourth inning of the nightcap…The second game win ended a seven-game road losing streak…Sandoval opened the fourth inning of the second game with a double, Lancaster’s first extra-base hit in 19 innings…It was Lancaster’s second win in five tries in extra innings.