STORMERS ROAR BACK IN FINALE

Martin, Hulsizer Propel 9-7 Comeback Win

If momentum means anything heading into the playoffs, the Lancaster Stormers found a great way to build it on Sunday afternoon.

Niko Hulsizer went 3-for-3 with a homer and four RBI, and Mason Martin was 3-for-4 with a homer and two driven home, leading Lancaster to a come-from-behind, 9-7 win over the Staten Island FerryHawks in the regular season finale.

Lancaster fell behind, 5-0, as Staten Island reached starter Adam Wibert for seven hits and five runs in just one full inning plus four batters.  Calvin Estrada singled home a pair of runs in the first inning.  David Melfi’s single punched into right extended the lead to 3-0 in the second, and Nate Scantlin chased the spot starter with a two-run double into the right field corner.

Steffon Moore came in and struck out the side around a well-placed walk of Estrada, enabling Lancaster’s comeback.

Martin got the rally started with a line drive homer through the right field deck.  An error kept the Lancaster second alive, and Trace Loehr took advantage of the situation with a two-run single to cut the lead to 5-3.

Hulsizer connected for a 438’ blast to the sidewalk above the hill in left with two outs in the fourth trimming the lead to just one.

The teams exchanged two-run innings in the fifth before the Stormers went to work in the bottom of the seventh off Christian Allegretti (6-3).  The left-hander walked Damon Dues to start the inning, and Gaige Howard followed with a single to center.  Martin dropped a pop fly into left center for a double to tie the game at 7-7.  Hulsizer followed with a double blistered off the signs in deep left center.

A.J. Alexy (2-1) pitched a perfect seventh for the win.  Scott Engler fanned two of three batters that he faced to hold the lead.  Phil Diehl worked around a leadoff single by Ben Norman in the ninth to earn his third save.

Lancaster will send Noah Bremer (10-7) to the hill for the playoff opener against York on Tuesday at 6:45.  York will counter with right-hander Chris Vallimont (6-2).  Tickets remain on sale.  Fans may tune into the game on FloBaseball, beginning at 6:40.

NOTES:   Martin was named the team MVP by the fans by a very narrow margin…The homer was his 27^th in 66 games this season…Shawon Dunston, Jr. was thrown out on an attempt to steal his 50^th base in the fifth inning…Lancaster won three of its last four series and finished the second half at 40-23…The club is 121-68 in the second half over the last three seasons.