JetHawks do it all in 7-1 win over Mavs

LANCASTER, Calif. - The JetHawks excelled in all facets of the game on Friday night as they rolled to a 7-1 victory over the High Desert Mavericks before a festive crowd of 3,834 at The Hangar.

Starter Vince Velasquez (4-0) set the tone with a strike out to start the game and the JetHawks bats put the Mavs in an early hole with three runs in the first inning.

Tony Kemp led off with a single and was promptly doubled home by Ruben Sosa who picked up his first extra-base hit with Lancaster. Sosa then attempted to steal third and scored when catcher Steve Baron's throw sailed into left field.

Brandon Meredith capped the inning with a solo home run to give the JetHawks the early advantage.

Velasquez took it from there. The right-hander didn't allow a hit over the first three innings and induced two inning-ending double play grounders after issuing walks to Mavericks hitters.

Velasquez went five innings and allowed just one hit while striking out four and walking three. The Pomona-native picked up his Cal League best fourth win and lowered his ERA to 1.29.

Lancaster gave tandem starter Kyle Westwood some breathing room in the sixth inning. Carlos Correa doubled with one out and Dan Gulbransen followed with a walk to bring Meredith to the plate. Meredith blasted a ball off the batter's eye in dead centerfield to put the JetHawks up 6-0. It marked the first multi-homer game for Lancaster this season.

Mavericks starter Matt Anderson (1-2) was charged with five runs over 5 1/3 innings to pick up the loss.

Correa continued his solid night in the eighth inning with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch. He finished 3-for-3 with and was just a home run shy of the cycle.

Westwood notched his second save of the season, allowing just one run over four innings to close out the game.

The tandem of Velasquez and Westwood has started the season a combined 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP.

With the win, the JetHawks (11-6) moved back into a first place tie with High Desert (11-6).

Lancaster is off on Sunday and will embark on its second road trip of the season on Monday night in San Bernardino where the JetHawks will begin a four game series with the Inland Empire 66ers. Lance McCullers and Kyle Smith are scheduled to pitch in the 7:05 p.m. game at San Manuel Stadium.

Don't miss a moment of exciting JetHawks action at The Hangar in 2014. Season tickets and other great ticket packages are on sale now. To order, call (661) 726-5400 or visit jethawks.com.