Boswell the hero, 'Hawks walk off again

LANCASTER, Calif. - The JetHawks won in walk-off fashion again Wednesday, beating Inland Empire, 8-7, on a two-run home run from Bret Boswell in the bottom of the tenth inning at The Hangar. Boswell's second home run of the game capped off a second-straight walk-off win for Lancaster, the team's fifth in a row overall.

Inland Empire (26-20, 59-57) took a one-run lead in the top of the tenth inning on a Brandon Marsh double, but the JetHawks found an answer. With two outs and the tying run on third in the bottom of the tenth, Bret Boswell smashed a game-winning home run to right field.
The home run was the second of the night for Boswell, who also hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning. It was the first hit allowed by Inland Empire's Isaac Mattson (1-1), who had pitched three perfect innings before the tenth. Heath Holder (8-0) pitched the extra frame for Lancaster to earn the win.
Lancaster (28-17, 62-54) has won five-straight games, tying the team's longest winning streak of the year. The win was the team's second walk-off in as many days, and the fifth of the season. Boswell's walk-off home run was the first for Lancaster since Mylz Jones hit one against Lake Elsinore August 12, 2017.
For the second night in a row, Inland Empire jumped out to an early lead. The 66ers scored twice in the first and added a Brandon Marsh home run in the third to go up, 3-1.
The JetHawks responded, tying the game in the fourth on a Vince Fernandez two-run home run. It was the 21st long ball of the year for Fernandez, who leads the California League.
Lancaster went up, 6-3, on back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. After Boswell gave the JetHawks the lead with a two-run shot, Alan Trejo followed with a home run. Inland Empire scored twice in the sixth and tied the game on a wild pitch in the seventh, setting up extra innings.
The win clinches a series victory for Lancaster. The JetHawks now lead Inland Empire by three games in the standings, and they're just 3.5 games behind Rancho Cucamonga in the Second Half.
The series concludes Thursday night, with Lancaster going for another sweep and a sixth-straight win. Logan Longwith (3-4) takes the ball in the finale against Inland Empire's Erik Manoah Jr. (2-8). First pitch from The Hangar is at 6:35 pm.