The Joshua Springs Lightning baseball team were on a short road trip to Palm Springs Friday, April 27th for an afternoon game against their Victory League rivals the Desert Chapel Eagles. The Lightning (5-10, 3-4) were looking to pick up a win to stay in the race for the 4th spot in the Victory League and to move closer to .500 in league play. The Eagles (2-16, 1-7) are having a rough year and were hoping to pick up their 3rd win of the year.

The Lightning drew first blood in this game picking up a run in the top of the first after senior Greg Lindblom hit a solid double to get the Lighting started. Freshman Wade Shaver picked up an RBI bringing in Lindblom on a Sac Hit 4-3 play. The Lightning left two on base to end their at bat.

Jacob Husband was the on the mound for the Lightning as the bottom of the 1st got underway. Husband gave up one run to the Eagles and the defense held making the score 1-1 after one inning.

Neither team scored in the 2nd inning but Husband started to heat up striking out two of the four batters.

In the top of the third inning the Lightning got some separation picking up two more runs on three hits while the Eagles could only score once against the Lightning defense. The score was 3-2 after, three innings.

In the top of the fourth inning the Lightning got their first three batters on base with walks and then picked up five straight runs on just two hits. The Eagles had no answer and it was 8-2 after four innings.

The Lightning picked up two more runs in the top of the fifth and Husband shut down the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth three up and three down. The Lightning now had a commanding 10-2 lead.

What happened in the top of the sixth no one expected when the Thunderbats exploded for 15 unanswered runs on 12 hits with Freshman Robert Prioleau hitting a triple and senior Erik McClay hitting a double. The Lightning had 12 RBIs in the 6th inning alone.

Husband was the winning pitcher going all the way facing 26 batters allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out five and walking five.

Top batters on the day were Lindblom who went four for five with a double, scoring five runs, and one RBI; McClay who went three for five with a double, scoring three runs, four RBIs and stealing four bases; freshman Eddie Costello who went three for five, scoring two runs and one RBI; Shaver who went three for six, scoring four runs, six RBIs and stealing four bases; Junior Blaine Pendergrass who went three for six, scoring three runs and five RBIs; Husband who went one for four, scoring one run, one RBI and two steals; freshman Luke Humphreville who went one for five, scoring two runs and two RBIs, Prioleau who went one for two with a triple, scoring one run and two RBIs; and sophomore Seth Roses went one for two, scoring three runs and one RBI. Senior David Enos went zero for three but scored a run.

This was a great team win for the Lightning as they finished off the Eagles 25-2 and set up a battle for third place in the Victory League against the Mesa Grande Academy Cardinals which the Lightning will play next at home on Tuesday, May 1st at Lightning field. Game time is 4:30PM.