Barnstormers Sweep Doubleheader Against Sharks

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on June 7, 2009

Lancaster, PA – With better weather on Saturday, the Lancaster Barnstormers continued their rampage against Atlantic League foes at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Saturday evening with a doubleheader sweep of the Camden Riversharks.

David Housel drove in four runs, including two on a home run, and Bryan Sabatella slugged a grand slam in the nightcap as the Barnstormers captured the nightcap, 11-5. Earlier, Aaron Herr’s two-run homer and Ryan Mulhern’s two-run single supported four Barnstormers pitchers in a 5-1 opening game victory in front of 6,725 at the ballpark on Prince Street.

Lancaster jumped on Chris Shaver (1-2) early in the second game. Lloyd Turner led off with a triple to left center and scored on Housel’s single into right field. Shaver struck out L.J. Biernbaum, then walked Michael Woods before leaving the game with an injury. Herr greeted reliever Byron Batson with an RBI single into center as Lancaster grabbed the 2-0 edge.

Camden scored an unearned run off Ben Fritz (2-1) in the second, but a double play, one of three turned by the Barnstormers in the nightcap, helped Fritz escape further damage. The Barnstormers came right back with three messy runs in the bottom of the inning. Housel drove in one with a sacrifice fly, and a second crossed on a single to center by Biernbaum before a throwing error allowed Biernbaum to score for a 5-1 lead.

The Riversharks again challenged Fritz’ lead in the third with RBI singles off the bats of Jon Knott and Brett Bonvechio. However, Lancaster was able to salt the game away against former Barnstormer Derek Barrows. Housel cranked the two-run homer in the fourth, and Sabatella contributed the grand slam, his first homer of the season, in the fifth as Lancaster pulled away.

In the opener, Mulhern’s single to right scored Herr and Danny Bravo in the second, giving Lancaster a 2-0 lead off Dewon Brazelton (2-1). Herr’s two-run homer in the fifth gave Lancaster a 4-1 lead, and Turner capped the scoring with an RBI double in the sixth.

Camden’s only marker in the first game came on a home run to right by Vito Chiaravalloti off Ross Peeples in the fifth inning. Ricardo Gomez (1-0) pitched a scoreless sixth inning to earn the win. Starter Zack Parker retired 12 of 13 batters in four innings but came out of the contest as a precaution to prevent further damage to his injured middle finger.

The Barnstormers and Riversharks wrap up the series with a 6:05 start on Sunday on Brides and Bases Day at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Eric Junge (0-1) will make a spot start for Lancaster against Camden’s Tom Davey (5-0). The Barnstormers will hit the road for a week following Sunday’s game against Camden.

NOTES: Danny Bravo walked in the first game and singled in the second, extending his streak to 23 games on base…Herr has now driven in 13 runs in the last five games and 26 in the last 21…He was also hit by a pitch three times in the doubleheader…Housel has four homers in 27 at bats at Clipper Magazine Stadium…Sabatella reached base on four of six trips in the doubleheader and has now been aboard 14 of his last 22 plate appearances overall…Lloyd Turner was successful on his 13th straight steal attempt in game one…Sabatella retook the team lead with his 14th of the year in the nightcap.

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