Entering the final inning, the Lancaster Barnstormers were five runs behind the Camden Riversharks. But the 'Stormers rallied for four runs with the help of an error and a three-run Bryant Nelson homer.

That cut the deficit to one and Aaron Herr and Reggie Taylor, the team's top two home run hitters, were the next two batters.

But both grounded out, ending the game with the Riversharks winning 9-8 Thursday night in the first contest of a four-game series in Lancaster.

"It was a nice rally there in the ninth to give us a chance," Lancaster manager Tom Herr said. "But we couldn't do it in the end."

The loss dropped the Barnstormers four games behind the Somerset Patriots, an 8-1 winner at Southern Maryland, in the Freedom Division.

Lancaster, now 26-27, has 17 games left in the season's second half. Somerset (31-24) has 15 remaining.

"We understand the situation," Herr said, "but until you're out of it, we keep grinding it out. We win three in a row, they (Somerset) lose three in a row, we're right back in it."

Despite the way the game ended, it was Lancaster's pitching, not the offense that was the problem on Thursday. The Riversharks scored three runs in the first inning and never trailed after that.

Lancaster starter Wayne Franklin struggled most the 5.2 innings he pitched. Camden began the game with two straight bunt singles by Chris Walker and Sean Smith. A walk to Brian Burgamy, one of seven issued by Franklin, loaded the bases.

A run scored on a double play started when shortstop Bryant Nelson made a diving stop. The next batter, Raul Padron, hit a two-run homer.

Franklin walked in a run in the third, allowed another run in the fourth and a solo home run to Estee Harris in the sixth.

"He didn't have his good command like he usually does," Herr said of Franklin (2-3).

"He gave up a couple home runs to left-handers, which is unusual. He just wasn't quite sharp tonight."

Austin Hinkle relieved Franklin with the bases loaded and got Matt Ceriani to pop up to end the sixth. Rick Bauer pitched a scoreless ninth for Lancaster.

But in between those two relievers, Tim McNab, who gave up two runs in the seventh and Charlie Weatherby, who surrendered a run in the eighth, also struggled.

"We just didn't pitch very well tonight," Herr said. "We've got to do better. I was trying to keep it close because I figured we were going to score some runs. But we just couldn't keep it close enough.

Lancaster scored its first two runs on a two-out single by Aaron Herr in the third.

Adam Witter's 17th homer of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth off Camden starter Gabriel Alfaro (3-6), made it 5-4. But that was the last time Lancaster would score until the ninth.

Lancaster had two on with one out in the ninth against Camden reliever Ryan McKeller when L.J. Biernbaum hit a comebacker to the mound. McKeller threw the ball down the first-base line allowing a run to score. Nelson followed with his home run to right center.

Aaron Herr, who was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, hit a ball up the middle that former Barnstormer Juan Francia, playing shortstop, made a nice play on to throw out Herr by a step.

Camden reliever Tim Bittner was brought in and got Taylor to ground to second to end the game and record his first save of the season.

"We're not done," Tom Herr said. "Anything can happen, the teams are so evenly matched throughout the league that anybody can beat anybody. We just have to keep going."

bwilson@lnpnews.com