LIMA LOCOS 11 FLAG CITY SLUGGERS 2 - FINAL
SIMMONS FIELD - The Lima Locos scores 11 unanswered returning the favor on the Flag City Sluggers winning 11-2 on Saturday at Simmons Field.
The Locos (17-8) were on the other side of the same situation in the series opener on Friday night. The Sluggers scored nine straight runs after trialing the game 2-0 in the early going for a 9-2 victory.
On Saturday, Flag City (13-11) lead 2-0 after Matt Gardner (Little Rock) hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning.
The Locos tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second before exploding for six runs in the sixth inning.
Lima, who sent ten batters to the plate, broke the 2-2 tie with when Evan Holstein (Kennesaw State) scored on an RBI-single by Nolan Book (Troy University). David Falloon (Mercer University) was forced home from third base when Will Briggs (UMass commit) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Back-to-back two-run singles by Brecken Menuet (Louisiana Tech) and Charlie Vercruysse (Purdue University commit) capped the six-run inning.
The Locos added three more runs on just one hit in the eighth inning to finish off the Sluggers.
Anthony Lariz (Central Florida) pitched three and 2/3 shutout innings out of the Locos bullpen earning the victory. Lariz improved to 3-0 on the season striking out six batters without giving up a walk and giving up just two hits.
Anderson Hayes (Notre Dame) got the start for the Locos and didn’t factor into the decision despite notching nine strikeouts in five and 1/3 innings or work on the mound.
The rubber game of the series takes place at Simmons Field wrapping up the series on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:05pm.
