JetHawks walk off on Storm in opener

LANCASTER, Calif. - The JetHawks came back from a four-run deficit to defeat the Lake Elsinore Storm, 8-7, in 10 innings at The Hangar Friday night. The JetHawks tied the game with two in the ninth, and Manny Melendez won it with a walk-off single in extras.

Lancaster (29-32) trailed, 7-3, through six innings. The JetHawks scored a pair in the seventh to make it a two-run game. In the ninth, Vince Fernandez tied the game with a two-run single to centerfield.
Reid Humnphreys (2-0) retired all three batters he faced in the top of the 10th, setting up the walk-off win. Manny Melendez came through with the game-winning hit, a single to left field that scored Brian Serven from third base. The hit was the fourth for Melendez in the contest, and the win was Lancaster's third in walk-off fashion.
David Bednar (2-2) pitched the final two innings for the Storm, taking the defeat. Lancaster scored four in as many innings against the Lake Elsinore bullpen after starter Reggie Lawson gave up just three runs in six innings.
Lake Elsinore (30-31) took the lead with three runs on five hits in the second inning. Lancaster's Ty Culbreth allowed five runs on 11 hits in 4.2 innings. Three relievers combined to finish the game with four hitless innings. The Storm had 15 hits in the first six innings.
Lancaster trailed from the second inning until the ninth. The four-run deficit ties the largest the JetHawks have overcome in a win this season.
The win kept Lancaster from falling three games back in the standings. With nine games left to play in the First Half, all four teams in the South Division are separated by just one game.
The series continues Saturday night at The Hangar. David Hill (1-0) makes his second start for Lancaster against Lake Elsinore lefty Adrian Morejon (3-3, 3.57). It's Jurrassic Park Night, with the first 1,000 fans taking home a safari hat! First pitch is at 6:05 pm.