HIGGINS HEROIC HOMER DOES IN STORMERS

Rookie Long Island Shortstop Connects in Eighth

Saturday evening’s game at Long Island’s Farifield Properties Ballpark was, by far, the most dramatic of the three played on opening weekend between the Lancaster Stormers and host Long Island Ducks.

In the end, it may have become the most frustrating.

Kevin Higgins, a rookie shortstop playing in his first Atlantic League, belted a leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth to snap a 6-6 tie, sending the Long Island Ducks to a 7-6 win over the Stormers Saturday evening.

Higgins connected against James Hoyt (0-1), giving Long Island its third and final lead of the game.  The Stormers built a rally in the ninth on singles by Cristian Santana and Niko Hulsizer, but Tyler Zuber coaxed a 4-6-3 double play out of Chad Sedio to end the night and pick up the save.

The Stormers had just tied the game on Shawon Dunston, Jr.’ two-out RBI double to right in the top of the eighth inning which helped to erase the sting of Frank Schwindel’s two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh.

Lancaster had three leads along the way as well.  Hulsizer drove home Isan Diaz with an infield single in the first inning and broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single to left scoring Dunston.

After Long Island struck for three, two on a single by Chance Sisco, in the bottom of the fifth, the Stormers recovered in the seventh.  Jack Conley led off the inning with a single and took second on a wild pitch.  Dunston reached on a single off the glove of pitcher Trevor Bettencourt to reach as the tying run.  Diaz dropped a double down the left field line to cut the lead to one.  Santana followed with a single rolled up the middle for a 5-4 edge.

The Stormers will send veteran Atlantic League right-hander Nile Ball to the mound on Sunday at 1:35.  Long Island will counter with right-hander Charlie Neuweiler.  Fans may tune into the game on FloBaseball beginning at 1:30.

NOTES:  Santana, Diaz, Hulsizer and Dunston have all hit safely in each game so far…Hulsizer and Santana each has six hits on the season…Nick Lucky picked up singles in his first two at bats to start the season 3-for-3 before going hitless his final two trips…Gaige Howard walked on three straight plate appearances for the second time this year.