LANCASTER – The JetHawks won in exciting fashion Saturday night, besting Rancho Cucamonga, 6-5, at The Hangar to clinch a series victory.

Rancho Cucamonga had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the final inning, but Justin Lawrence managed to close it out.

Lancaster (26-17, 59-54) took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the score tied, 3-3, Manny Melendez put the JetHawks on top with a two-out, two-run double. Vince Fernandez added a solo home run—his 20th of the season—in the seventh make it a three-run game.

Rancho Cucamonga (32-11, 67-46) made things interesting in the eighth with a Cristian Santana two-run home run. The Quakes put two on base with one out in the ninth, but Justin Lawrence struck out back-to-back hitters to end it.

Salvador Justo (3-1) worked a scoreless sixth inning to earn the win. Rancho Cucamonga’s Parker Curry (6-2) allowed a pair of runs in defeat.

The game started quickly for both teams. Jared Walker led off with a home run for the Quakes. The JetHawks answered with a Tyler Nevin two-run home run in the bottom of the first.

Rancho took the lead with two unearned runs in the top of the third inning, but Lancaster promptly tied it up with an RBI single from Wes Rogers. It stayed knotted up until Manny Melendez smashed the go-ahead double three innings later.

The JetHawks are now a season-best five games above .500 at 59-54. They lead Inland Empire by a game in the overall standings.

Here’s the box score.

Lancaster goes for a sweep in Sunday’s series finale. Matt Dennis (7-11) gets the tart for the JetHawks against Rancho’s Max Gamboa (1-1). First pitch from The Hangar is at 5:05 pm.