Lancaster blanked by Sixers in finale

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The JetHawks missed early opportunities to score and ended up 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 6-0 loss to the Inland Empire 66ers on Thursday night at San Manuel Stadium.
The loss forced Lancaster (31-36) to settle for a four-game series split and extended their series winless streak to a month. The club's last series win was a three-game sweep of Visalia from May 15-17.
The JetHawks spoiled chances to score in the first and second innings. They recorded three hits in the first inning but came up empty thanks to a fly-ball double play and an excellent throw by right fielder Brandon Marsh to get Colton Welker trying to advance to third on a Roberto Ramos single. They loaded the bases with one out in the second inning and couldn't cash in agains.
Inland Empire (32-35) jumped on the board in the bottom of the first. David Hill (1-2) walked the leadoff man before allowing a home run to Jo Adell. It was Adell's third home run of the series, all of which were first-inning homers. Hill issued another walk and two batters later allowed an RBI-single to Roberto Baldoquin.
The 66ers chased Hill with three runs in the fifth inning. Richie Fecteau tripled home a run and Jahmai Jones and Marsh added run-scoring hits.
Hill allowed six runs on six hits over 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and three walks.
Lancaster's bullpen totaled 3.1 scoreless innings to end the game.
The loss dropped the JetHawks back into fourth place in the South Division and eliminated them from the First Half race. The club's best-possible finish would be a three-way tie for first with Rancho Cucamonga and Inland Empire, but they would fail to qualify for a one-game playoff due to tiebreaker rules.
Lancaster begins a three-game series at Lake Elsinore on Friday night. Matt Dennis (3-7) is scheduled to start for the JetHawks opposite Adrian Morejon (4-3). First pitch is 7 p.m.