Haines City Scores Two In Seventh To Upset Lake Wales

The Haines City Hornets traveled to face the Lake Wales Highlanders Thursday in a non-district match-up.
The Hornets built an early three-run lead only to see the Highlanders battle back to tie the game late. But, in the seventh, the Hornets scored two to rally for the 5-3 victory.

The Hornets (5-6) got things going in the first with a RBI single from Jose Calderon. Joel Hernandez crossed the plate on the base hit from Calderon. The Hornets added two more runs in the third to go ahead 3-0. First, Calderon brought home Hernandez again on a single to left field. Later in the inning a triple from Sam Koruschak scored Calderon for the third run.

Alex Rojas held the Highlanders (8-3) scoreless through the first four innings. A costly error on the Hornets infield finally shifted momentum towards Lake Wales. Cameron Roecker and Parker Perdue scored on the error to pull to within one. An inning later, the Highlanders scored to pull even with the Hornets.

Tyler Pynes led off the top of the seventh for the Hornets and sent a fly ball into center field for a long single. Two batters later, Zach Jackson took a 1-0 pitch and sent it deep into the outfield for a triple that scored Pynes for the go-ahead run. A sacrifice fly from Angel Colon brought home Jackson to go ahead 5-3.

Drake Kasperick came back out for the seventh for the Hornets to close out the game. Kasperick gave up back-to-back hits with two outs, but ended the game with his second strikeout of the inning to secure the victory for the Hornets. It is their second road win and snaps a four-game losing streak for the Hornets.

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