L.I. Ducks: Flock Outburst Salvages Twin Bill Split With Lancaster

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

FROM

THE POND

As the first-half Liberty Division race begins winding down in earnest the Ducks are tasked with regaining a measure of separation from Somerset and High Point.  Just in time the schedule makers hand the Ducks a second division team as Lancaster enters this weekend series at the Pond with a sub par 19-32 record.

But alas even the best laid plans go awry.  Lancaster pulls out a last inning victory in game one of Friday's scheduled double-header.  Twice Long Island takes the lead, and twice the Barnstormers tie the game.  As such the teams enter the seventh and potentially last inning (abbreviated game) all knotted up at three.  Manager Wally Backman hands the ball to reliever Josh Lueke whom promptly issues a lead-off walk.  An out and a stolen base later and Lueke issues a second walk.  With two outs, Lueke then yields a hit to Lancaster second baseman Dan Gamache plating the go-ahead run.  In the bottom of the seventh the Barnstormers' Cody Eppley strikes out the side en route to his ninth save of the season.

After five innings of game two, the Ducks appear headed for a second straight loss.  They trail Lancaster 8-1 with but six outs left to spare.  In the bottom of the sixth however the game changes on a dime.  Long Island sends 16 batters to the plate.  Seven base hits, one home run, three walks, a hit batsman, and an E-6 later, and the Ducks post eleven runs in the inning and win by a stunning 12-8 final.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis is big man on campus, going 2 for 4, with a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored.

With the victory the Ducks also gain a half-game advantage over the Somerset Patriots whom were defeated on Friday by the York Revolution.

• UPDATE:  Starter Alec Asher becomes the latest (and the ninth) pitcher to get plucked from the Flock.  His contract was purchased by the Chinese professional league.