The Lincoln Potters outlasted the Healdsburg Prune Packers Friday night as their offense came up clutch in big moments, erasing an early five-run deficit to come back and defeat the CCL North leader by a final score of 10-9.
The Potters offense connected for 12 hits on the night, including two key home runs in the later innings to power their way to victory.
Tyler Mead came on in relief during the middle of the sixth inning and received the win after 1.33 innings of work in which he struck out one and allowed only 2 hits. Blake Hearns earned the save after entering the game in the ninth, making quick work of the Prune Packers, needing only nine pitches to close out the night.
After allowing five first inning runs, the Potters were able to get one back in the bottom of the first as Zach Bushling (1 2B) led off the inning with a deep double into left field and was later brought in by way of a Matt Lopez (1 HR, 2 RBI) RBI.
Healdsburg got one back in the top of the fourth, but Lincoln answered with four-runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to bring them to within one.
Entering the sixth still trailing by one, Lopez quickly changed that when he blasted his fourth home run of the season over the wall in right center to tie the game at sixth.
The offense wasn’t done though, as both Lorenzo Debrecht (1 HR, 2 RBI) and Parker Kelly (2 H, 1 BB) reached base and were later drove in when Grant Burton (1 2B, 2 RBI) delivered a clutch line-drive double down the line to give the Potters their first lead of the ball game.
The Prune Packers were able to even up the score though in the top of the seventh, scoring two more runs and putting the score at 8-8 entering the bottom of the seventh.
After two quick outs to lead off the inning, Lopez was able to extend the inning as he connected for his second hit of the night, a line drive single into centerfield.
Debrecht then stepped up to the plate and showed why he is one of the top hitters in the CCL this summer, depositing his sixth home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Potters a 10-8 advantage.
Healdsburg were able to gain one back in the top of the eighth, but Blake Hearns slammed the door shut in the ninth to seal the one-run victory for the Potters.
Lincoln now posts an overall record of 22-14-1 with the win, and improved their CCL league record to 14-10.
The Potters will host their final fireworks night of the season Saturday, July 20, as they square off with the Sierra Nevada Wolves on Zebra Night presented by Fairway Mortgage. Potter players will be wearing special zebra edition jerseys that will be available for purchase via a silent auction during the game! Come out and show your Fighting Zebra pride with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and the firework display to follow the conclusion of the game!
