LANCASTER, Pa. – The Lancaster Stormers’ David Smith doubled home two runs with two outs in the ninth to erase High Point’s 8-7 lead and deliver a 9-8 win for Lancaster in the series finale on Sunday night at Penn Medicine Park.
The Rockers had taken an early 6-2 lead and led 7-3 going into the seventh when the Stormers tied the game with four runs. Luke Napleton blasted a solo homer in the top of the eighth to put High Point on top 8-7.
In the ninth, Ryan Chasse came on but allowed a lead-off single to Aaron Schunk. After a fly ball out, Nick Lucky beat out an infield single to put two men aboard. A grounder to second advanced the runners with two outs. Smith then doubled into the left field corner, scoring both Schunk and Lucky, to complete Lancaster’s series sweep.
The Rockers are now 15-18 in the second half and 44-52 on the year. Lancaster improved to 16-16 and 51-44.
Lancaster took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Lead-off hitter Melvin Mercedes reached on an infield single but suffered an apparent leg injury on the play and was replaced by Jalen Battles. Aaron Schunk then singled Battles to second and he scored on a single by Tristin English.
The Rockers forged a 2-1 lead in the top of the second as Nick Longhi drew a walk from Lancaster starter Kyle Lazer. Lazer then walked Braxton Davidson and Longhi moved to third on Aidan Brewer’s fielder’s choice to short stop. Ty Hubbard roped a single to plate Longhi before Luke Napleton plated Brewer with a fielder’s choice.
Lancaster tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second on a single by Adam Hackenberg and a sac bunt. Battle’s grounder to third was thrown away at first with Hackenberg scoring on the E-5.
The Rockers surged to a 6-2 lead in the third. The four-run rally started with back-to-back solo homers from Hogan Windish and Longhi. After a walk to Davidson, Hubbard doubled to put two runners in scoring position. A walk to Ethan Skender loaded the bases and Napleton stroked a two-run single to center to score two.
Lancaster pulled to within 6-3 in the fourth inning when Scott Kelly walked and eventually scored on a groundout by Battles.
Ivan Melendez hit his 13th homer of the year with two outs in the sixth to extend High Point’s lead to 7-3.
Lancaster scored four times in the seventh inning to tie the contest at 7-7. Brayden Matthews allowed a pair of hits and a walk in allowing the first run. Nick Timpanelli came on in relief and allowed a pair of hits and walk as well.
After an off-day on Monday, the Rockers will open a six-game homestand with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers. Game time for Tuesday’s first pitch at Truist Point is set for 6:35 p.m. Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.
NOTES: 2B Ty Hubbard singled in the second inning and extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying for the team season-high with Alex Dickerson who also had a 13-game streak . . . Hubbard added a double in the third . . . Hogan Windish has at least one hit in each of his first six games as a Rocker . . . LHP Kent Emanuel made his first start for Class AAA Louisville on Sunday and kept the Saint Paul Saints hitless until the fifth inning, finishing with the win . . . Emanuel went six innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out eight.
