Hobson Blasts ‘Stormers to Win in Opener

Barnstormers Pluck Ducks, 6-4, in Saturday Matinee

K.C. Hobson broke out of a tough road trip with a pair of home runs on Saturday afternoon, guiding the Lancaster Barnstormers to a seven-inning, 6-4 victory over the Long Island Ducks in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

Hobson, who had gone hitless for the previous four games, took Dennis O’Grady (1-2) over the boards with a towering drive to right center to lead off the second.  Two innings later, he provided the Barnstormers with their final lead on a deep liner to right with two men aboard.

It was Long Island that struck first.  Fehlandt Lentini opened the game with a single to center off Jarret Leverett (2-0).  The Long Island right fielder promptly stole second and third and rode home on Delta Cleary, Jr.’s single into center.

Hobson’s first homer tied the game.  Garrett Weber followed the home run with a double into the right field corner and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a single to center by Vladimir Frias.  The Barnstormers tacked on another run in the third as Rico Noel led off with a single and scampered home on Weber’s second double in two innings, a two-out blast into the left center field gap.

Dan Lyons triggered a Long Island rally with a 2-2 bloop hit into right to start the home third.  He stole second with one out and scored on Cleary’s second RBI single into center.  On the next pitch, Angelo Songco belted a two-run homer to right, giving the Ducks the short-lived, 4-3 lead.

Kevin Munson allowed a one-out single to Giovanny Alfonzo in the bottom of the sixth but got out of the inning unscratched.  Anthony Carter retired the side in order in the final frame, getting the last two on strikes, for his seventh save.

Brad Bergesen (2-2) and Tim Melville (2-2) square off in the nightcap.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  Darian Sandford singled in the fourth inning to extend his hitting streak to 10…Songco and Hobson both tied Jeremy Barfield for the league home run lead…Blake Gailen picked up his 494^th Barnstormers hit, an infield single in the third…The two-homer game was Hobson’s third as a Barnstormer and second at Long Island…Lancaster’s bullpen has thrown 10 consecutive scoreless innings.