Lancaster takes series opener from Rockers

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Lancaster unleashed 13 hits including seven doubles as the Barnstormers defeated High Point 9-3 on Wednesday night at Truist Point in the opening game of a three-game series.

The loss leaves the Rockers at 9-6 in the second half of the Atlantic League season and 50-28 overall. The Rockers trail Gastonia by a half game in the South Division in the second half race.

Lancaster used a trio of first inning doubles to take an early 2-0 lead. Melvin Mercedes led off the game with a double and scored on a double by Andretty Cordero. Chad Sedio’s double then plated Sandoval for a 2-0 Lancaster lead.

The Rockers took a 3-2 lead with a three-run flurry in the third. Michael Russell singled and scored on a triple by Shed Long, Jr. After D.J. Burt was hit by a pitch, Ben Aklinski drove home Long, Jr. with a double and Beau Taylor delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Burt.

Lancaster rallied with two outs in the fourth off High Point starter Jheyson Manzueta (L, 3-1), collecting five consecutive base hits. After Trace Loehr singled, he scored on an RBI double by Mercedes who came around to score on a double by Yeison Coca. Cordero followed with a run-scoring single to put Lancaster ahead 5-3.

The Barnstormers added a pair of runs in the sixth on an RBI double from Jack Conleyu and a run-scoring single by Coca. Lancaster added two unearned runs in the ninth on an RBI double by Cordro and a ground out by Wilson Garcia.

Aklinski led the Rockers with three hits while Daikan Yoh added a pair of singles. Cordero finished the night with three hits, three RBI and a pair of doubles.

High Point and Lancaster will play game two of their three-game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The game will be streamed live on FLO Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.