The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels rallied late against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, scoring six runs in the final three innings for a 6-5 win last Friday. However, Fort Myers’ comeback was all for naught, as they dropped the series, 3-2.

The Mighty Mussels (28-38) lost their first two games of the six-game series, 2-5 and 1-6, respectively. Weather halted the series at numerous points, cancelling the third game of the series on Thursday night, which led to a crucial fourth game to keep the series alive.

The game also marked the start of the second half of the Florida State League, which provided a second opportunity at a bid into the postseason. Fort Myers last qualified for the playoffs in 2022.

Following a scoreless first frame, Lakeland began its offensive push in the second frame. After a throwing error from Mighty Mussels second baseman Dameury Pena, Flying Tigers’ second baseman Abel Bastidas sent first baseman Garrett Pennington home for the first run of the game.

The Flying Tigers (38-26) carried this momentum through the seventh frame, with four runs through the next five innings.

Center fielder Woody Hadeen scored on a single-run homer to right field in the third frame. Hadeen made his way back around the diamond when shortstop Samuel Gil secured an RBI in the fifth inning, for a 3-0 lead.

Outfielder Stephen Hrustich was ushered home by a single hit from catcher Sergio Tapia in the sixth, followed by Gil scoring in the seventh. This left the Mussels indebted to the Flying Tigers’ 5-0 lead.

Fort Myers capitalized on a pitching change by Lakeland, who took out starting pitcher Lucas Elissalt for Ignacio Briceno. Shortstop Dameury Pena grounded into a forced out, allowing catcher Daniel Pena to run home, scoring the Mussels’ first run of the night.

The Mighty Mussels weren’t ready to put a bow on the inning yet, and they made that clear when first baseman Billy Amick popped one to right field to advance third baseman Yohander Martinez home.

Lakeland looked toward another pitching change to end Fort Myers’ late-game momentum, moving Jorger Petri to the top of the mound. Petri struck out Bryan Acuna and Caleb McNeely to open the bottom of the eighth inning. However, a walk on Daniel Pena set up a deep drive down left field by catcher Jefferson Valladares, which brought both runners home for a 5-4 game.

Dameury Pena and Billy Amick opened the bottom of the ninth, advancing to second and third base with a double and single, respectively. Before Yasser Mercedes took the box with a chance to bring runners home, the Mussels decided to substitute pinch runner Angel Del Rosario in place of Amick at second base. Mercedes proceeded to hit a hard line drive, which brought Pena and Rosario home and secured a walk-off win.

The Mighty Mussels return to Hammond Stadium on Friday, July 4, for a three-game home-and-home series against the Bradenton Marauders.