STATEN ISLAND, NY— The Staten Island FerryHawks could only overcome one three-run deficit Sunday evening at SIUH Community Park, falling to the Lancaster Barnstormers 7-6. The FerryHawks loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but RHP West Tunnel whiffed Mariel Bautista and Ramon Osuna to earn the Barnstormers a three-game sweep. 
 
After already cutting a three-run deficit to one, Staten Island generated their ninth inning opportunity after a pair of one-out walks to Dilson Herrera and Rusney Castillo. Barnstormers third baseman Trace Loehr then made a diving stop on Ricardo Cespedes' hard-hit groundball behind third, but dropped the baseball as he went to the bag. With the bases loaded, both Bautista and Osuna failed to put the ball in play, giving Tunnel his second save of the series. 
 
Lancaster took the game's first lead in the third inning, plating three runs against Hector Guance on the only two hits they'd collect against the FerryHawks starter. Andretty Cordero supplied a two-run single on his league-leading 118^thhit, before a Jake Hoover single pushed the lead to 3-0.
 
Barnstormers starter RHP Nile Ball faced just one over the minimum through 3.1 innings before Staten Island got to him, sending all nine batters to the plate in the fourth inning. After a one-out walk by Herrera and a single from Rusney Castillo, Ricardo Cespdes came to the plate representing the tying run. The lefty blasted Ball's offer deep over the right field fence to tie the game at 3-3. Even after Cespedes cleared the bases, the rally continued with back-to-back singles and stolen bases from Mariel Bautista and Ramon Osuna, pushing Staten Island ahead 4-3. 
 
Guance exited the game with a one-run lead after five frames, however Lancaster took advantage of the FerryHawks bullpen, scoring four straight runs in the sixth and seventh innings. RHP Joe Kuzia started the sixth inning, but failed to finish it after three walks and a double by Anthony Peroni. RHP Eric Marinez's needed just one pitch to get the FerryHawks out of the jam tied 4-4, but used 21 more pitches in the Barnstormers three-run seventh inning. The Barnstormers had their second three-run lead after seven innings.  
 
Bautista and Osuna helped spark a two-run eighth inning to bring Staten Island within one. After Bautista reached on a Peroni throwing error, Osuna launched his second double of the season, scoring Bautista to make it a 7-5 game. Osuna then scored on Andres Noriega's sacrifice fly, making it 7-6. 
 
RHP Vin Aiello pitched 2.1 hitless frames to keep the deficit at one for Staten Island. 
 
Staten Island (29-60) and Long Island renew the 'Battle of the Belt' rivalry Tuesday at SIUH Community Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM with the FerryHawks pregame show at 6:15 PM. 
 
Postgame Notes: Dilson Herrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Ramon Osuna earned his first three-hit game of the season...Rusney Castillo (2-for-3) collected his seventh multi-hit game in 15 Staten Island starts...Errors: LAN 4, SI 0
 
FerryHawks Motto:The Staten Island FerryHawks are a Major League Baseball partnered franchise that will play in the high-quality Atlantic League in the Spring of 2022. Our mission is to create a home for everyone in the Staten Island community and solidify a fun and exciting family experience that fans will never forget. The FerryHawks will play their home games at the newly improved baseball stadium next to the Staten Island Ferry along Richmond Terrace in Downtown Staten Island. We are excited to have you and become part of our FerryHawk Family. Please visit https://ferryhawks.com. #RallyBackStatenIsland
 
About The Atlantic League:The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the Major Leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. The ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 44 million fans during its 23-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.