Ghost Peppers survive Lancaster test, extend streak to 11 straight

Anthony Prato’s five-hit night and two homers gave Gastonia the jolt it needed, but the 7-4 win over Lancaster was earned the hard way at Penn Medicine Park. The Ghost Peppers were forced to answer every push from a quality opponent before finally breaking loose in the eighth and stretching their winning streak to 11 games.

Prato started the night by launching the second pitch over the fence for a solo homer, but Lancaster answered immediately. Joseph Carpenter drove in a run with a single, then Evan Ulrich put the Stormers in front with an RBI knock in the second. From there, Ethan Lindow and Noah Bremer settled into a tight pitcher’s duel, and the game did not budge again until the sixth, when Gastonia tied it on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.

Lancaster retook the lead in the seventh when Jalen Battles and Scott Kelly delivered back-to-back hits, forcing Lindow out of the game. Jake Rice inherited the mess and escaped it with a 3-2-3 double play, getting Nathan Martorella to ground out and end the inning.

The eighth was all Ghost Peppers. Prato singled to open the frame, Bryson Brigman doubled him home, and Jace Rinehart followed with an infield single to put Gastonia ahead. Jack Reinheimer then delivered a two-run single, and Prato capped the rally with an opposite-field homer, his second of the night and fifth hit overall.

McKinley Moore finished the job by retiring Lancaster in order for his eighth save. Gastonia is now 15 games over .500, two games behind first-place Southern Maryland with six first-half games left, after Southern Maryland’s loss. This is Gastonia’s second 11-game winning streak of the season, after a 15-game run from May 16 to June 2 that began with an 8-6 win at Long Island and stopped just short of the Atlantic League record. Lancaster’s 15-game streak in 2024 and Somerset’s 15-game run in 2000 remain the benchmark.