Barnstormers salvage season in extras

CHATHAM – With its season on the line, Chatham-Kent scored three runs in the bottom of the 11th to beat Hamilton 7-6 on Saturday in Game 3 of the best-of-five quarter-final at Fergie Jenkins Field.  

Spencer Morin’s two-run double tied the game in the 11th after Hamilton went ahead in the top of the inning. He scored four batters later on Torrin Vaselnak’s walk-off single. Chatham-Kent also benefitted from two errors in the inning, including one charged to Cards’ closer Fernando Rodney to start the frame. 

Two of the three runs Rodney (0-1) allowed were unearned. He also gave up three hits and struck out one.  

Spencer Marcus went 4-for-5 with a two-run blast for the Barnstormers. Andrew Groening hit a solo home run, Yushin Ohta had two hits and an RBI, and Mitsuki Fukada went 2-for-4.  

Barnstormers’ reliever Garret Day (1-0) picked up the win after allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit in 2.1 innings. He struck out two. Chatham-Kent starter Aden Ryan allowed two runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. He walked three and fanned four. 

Jommer Hernandez went 5-for-6 with three RBI for the Cards. His bases-loaded single scored two to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the 11th. Tommy Reyes-Cruz drilled a two-run home run to pull even in the eighth, Brandon Nicoll had an RBI, and Niko Kekatos collected two hits.  

Freisis Adames started on the mound for Hamilton and went 5.1 innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits with a walk and eight punchouts.  

Game 4 is Tuesday in Hamilton.