Tigers Down Mussels 2-1 in Extras

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 15, 2021) – The Fort Myers Mighty fell 2-1 to the Lakeland Flying Tigers in an 11-inning contest on Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium. The Mussels’ pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts and held the Flying Tigers to four hits.

Mussels (20-17) starter Louie Varland held Lakeland (15-21) scoreless and struck out seven through 5.2 innings. Matthew Swain and Osiris German combined for seven punchouts out of the bullpen through 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.

The game remained scoreless until the 11th inning when Lakeland plated both of their runs. With a runner on first and one out, the Flying Tigers earned a hit-by-pitch and two walks, the latter of which pushed in the first run of the game. Jimmy Kerr came up next for Lakeland and drove in the second run of the night with a sacrifice fly to left.

Fort Myers staged a rally in the bottom of the 11th, when Yunior Severino moved Aaron Sabato to third base on a ground ball to first. Misael Urbina then poked a grounder into left field to score Sabato, but Urbina was thrown out at second base for the second out of the inning. The Mussels’ rally ultimately fell short, and Fort Myers dropped the first game of the series 2-1.

RHP Sean Mooney (0-1, 0.57) will take the mound for the Mighty Mussels on Wednesday against RHP Joseph Salazar (0-1, 6.20) of the Flying Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET at Hammond Stadium. Mighty Mussels Pre-Game Live will begin at 6:45 p.m.