Lakewood pitcher Matt Johnson couldn’t quite go the distance, but he did more than enough to help the Lancers (14-9, 6-0) stay perfect in the Moore League and beat Wilson (17-4, 4-2) at Blair Field on Wednesday, 6-4.

Johnson held the Bruins to seven hits and one run through six innings, dominating with his breaking ball and getting 13 groundball outs.  But in the seventh, Wilson centerfielder Aaron Hicks (2-4, 3 RBI) knocked a two-run double off the wall and knocked Johnson out of the game, making the score 6-3.  Max McEleney (2-4, 1 RBI) cashed Harris in off the first pitch from relief pitcher Derrick Dingman, which brought the tying run to the plate in third baseman Zach Wilson (1-3).

Wilson leads the Bruins and the Moore League in most offensive categories, but his hard liner was caught by a leaping Matt Duffy (1-4, RBI) at shortstop, who then spun quickly and doubled up McEleney at first, igniting the Lancer celebration of their 6-4 win.

Wilson starter Tommy Nance was no slouch, either.  With the score tied 1-1 headed into the sixth, Nance had given up only two hits on just 50 pitches.  With a man on first and no outs, Lakewood catcher Jonathan Keener (1-3, 2R, SB) hit a line drive into center.  Hicks charged the short hop, and the ball scooted under his glove and rolled to the warning track.

That opened the floodgates, and the Lancers tacked on three more hits and four more runs in the inning.

After the game, Johnson was disappointed with not going the distance, but excited like his teammates as Lakewood continues to roll along.