The Lincoln Potters were a lot better Friday night, as they topped Better Baseball Training in comeback fashion to win 13-4 in their penultimate game of the 2019 season.
The Potters used a 10-run eighth inning to propel their comeback as they brought 14 batters to the plate, collected five hits in the inning and took advantage of defensive miscues and hits batsman to put themselves in the driver seat.
Jakob Frederick came on in relief and received the win after dominating in his 3.0 innings of work, giving up zero runs and striking out five. Blake Hearn slammed the door shut in the ninth, blowing it by Better Baseball as he struck out one in his single inning of work.
Lincoln jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after Matt Lopez (2 BB, 1 R) drew a lead-off walk and was later brought home thanks to a Larry Fonseca (1 BB, 1 R) sacrifice fly.
Better Baseball got two back in the top of the third, but the Potters quickly tied it back up in the bottom half of the inning when Isaiah Garcia ( 1 HR, 3 H, 3 RBI) deposited a home run over the left field fence to draw the score even at two.
After Lincoln gave up two more in the top of the fifth, the score remained 4-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Zach Bushling (3 H, 4 RBI) reached on a fielder’s choice and was brought home soon after by a RBI single from Garcia.
Then came the Potters take over in the bottom of the eighth.
With Thomas Greely (1 H, 1 RBI) leading off the inning with a single and Fonseca reaching base after being hit by a pitch, the Potters strung together three straight singles to give themselves a 6-4 advantage.
After two defensive errors and three more hits batsman brought in four additional runs, Bushling stepped up to the plate and roped a bases clearing double down the right field line to blow the game wide open and giving the Potters a 13-4 lead headed into the ninth inning.
Bushling and Garcia led the offense on the night as they both collected multi-hit games, each connecting for three hits apiece while also driving in seven of Lincoln’s 13 runs.
Starter pitcher Michael Potter was solid in his first start of the season, allowing only three-earned runs in his 5.0 innings of work while striking out four.
The Potters season record now sits at 27-18-1 after the win.
Lincoln will close out their season Saturday, August 3, as they square off with the Sierra Wolves in the season finale on Fan Appreciation Night! Come out to the ballpark as we celebrate the season and you, the fans! The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a Lincoln Potters Lunch Box thanks to Safe Credit Union! And it doesn’t stop there! We will also have a raffle giveaway during the game with plenty of prizes to go around thanks in part to donations from our sponsors and local business from right here in Lincoln and the surrounding area! As an added bonus, following the conclusion of the game, the Potters will showcase their power as they will compete in a home run derby to determine bragging rights and wrap up the season with a bang. It also happens to be the final Stella Rosa Sangria Saturday of the season, so come out and get your fill of $3 sangria while you can! First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with gates opening at 5:35 p.m., so come out and celebrate the season with us here at McBean Stadium!
