(September 24, 2015 – Lancaster, PA) Game two of the Atlantic League’s Freedom Division Championship Series featured much more offence from both dugouts compared to game one as Lancaster evened the best-of-five set at 1-1 with a 6-5 win.
The game featured a matchup of lefties as the Blue Crabs’ Brian Burres took the hill vs. the Barnstormers Nate Reed. Both managers tweaked in their line-ups as Lancaster stacked their order with eight right handed hitters behind lefty lead-off man Jerry Owens. Stan Cliburn slotted all-star righty Jamar Walton into right field for the start in lieu of the lefty Fred Lewis.
Lancaster struck first in the first inning after Tyler Bortnick singled, later scoring on a Mike McDade single. Southern Maryland tied it up in the fourth as Casey Steven scored on a Reggie Abercrombie single. The Barnstormers immediately laid claim to the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on Anderson Feliz three run home run.
Lancaster put on two more in the eighth as Anderson Feliz doubled with two on. The Blue Crabs made Barnstormers fans uneasy in the ninth as they mounted a rally. Back to back singles by Jamar Walton and Keith Castillo put runners on first and third with no outs. Jake Opitz came up to pinch-hit and doubled on an 2-0 count to score Walton. Later with one out, Fred Lewis pinch-hit and singled, scoring Jake Opitz making it a 6-4 game. Casey Stevenson followed with another single to score Craig Maddox.
The game ended on a double play to secure the Southern Maryland loss and stifling the rally. Nate Reed earned the win after a 6.0 IP, 2 R, 6 H outing, Brian Burres gets the loss after a 6.1 IP, 4 R, 7 H outing. Game three comes to Waldorf at 7:05 tomorrow, Joe Gardner will toe the rubber for Lancaster and Jon Leicester will go for Southern Mayland. The series will now have a minimum of four games, game four will be in Waldorf on Saturday, September 26 at 6:35.