BARNSTORMERS HAVE DOUBLE VISION

DOUBLE VISION

Barnstormers Set Record with Ten Two-Baggers against Genomes

The Lancaster Barnstormers established a new franchise record with ten doubles on Friday evening in a 16-10 series opening win against the newly-minted Wild Health Genomes at Wild Health Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

Lancaster’s victory was its third straight, improving the club record to 11-14 and moving them to within one-half game of Long Island for second in the North.

Jake Hoover led the way with three of the doubles on a 4-for-5 night.  Colton Shaver also collected four of the Barnstormers 21 hits, including Lancaster’s only two homers.  The catcher drove in five.  Overall, seven different hitters were responsible for at least one two-base hit.  One who did not contribute a double was left fielder BJ Boyd, who still added three singles and three RBI.

The ‘Stormers broke out to a 10-0 lead over the first half of the night.  Two ground balls and an RBI single by Hoover produced the first three runs.  Shaver made it 5-0 with a two-run homer off Dustin Beggs (1-3) in the third.  Boyd singled home two more, and Shaver added an RBI double in the fourth as the lead grew to 8-0.  Devon Torrence doubled Anderson Feliz, who had also doubled, in the fifth for a 9-0 edge, and Boyd extended the lead to 10-0 with his third single.

Cameron Gann (2-2) tossed a one-hit shutout through the first four innings before the generous air currents finally got to him.  The right-hander allowed two singles to open the bottom of the fifth before picking up two outs.  Demetrius Moorer roped a double, the first of five for the Genomes, off the right field wall to score two.  Luke Becker hit a sinking liner to center that jumped over the head of LeDarious Clark for a two-run, inside-the-park homer.  Jimmy Paredes lined a shot over the wall in right to pull his club within five.

Shaver added a two-run blast in the sixth.  Clark tripled and scored on a ground out to stretch the lead back to eight, but a three-run homer by Cleuluis Rondon in the bottom of the inning narrowed the gap back to five.

Kelly Dugan lined a two-run single to center, and Melvin Mercedes added an RBI double in the ninth for the Barnstormers.

Donald Goodson worked the final three innings for the save.  He, too, was bitten by the doubles bug, allowing four to his last seven batters as the Genomes picked up a pair of runs.

Dominic DiSabatino (1-2) will pitch for the Barnstormers on Saturday against player-coach Elih Villanueva, a former Lancaster pitcher.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:30.

NOTES:  Clark doubled in the second to extend his hitting streak to 13 games…Hoover is batting .400 (14-35) in his last 11 games…Mercedes reached base three more times and has now been on 42 times in his last 21 games…Dugan has nine RBI in six games since returning from an illness and 26 RBI in his last 15 contests.

About the Lancaster Barnstormers

The Lancaster Barnstormers are headed into their 18^th year in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.  Home games are played at Ballpark Digest’s two-time Best Ballpark in MLB Partner League Baseball – Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Please call 717.509.HITS (4487) or visit www.lancasterbarnstormers.com for more information. 

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

With teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 44 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 24-year history. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

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