Patriots Storm Back to Down Barnstormers 4-3

Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots  (12-20, 54-48) earned a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Lancaster Barnstormers (12-19, 36-65) at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday afternoon at TD Bank Ballpark.

The Barnstormers jumped ahead 2-0 in the second stringing together four hits. KC Hobson doubled, scoring Destin Hood and Gift Ngoepe later drove K.C. Hobson in with a sacrifice fly. 

Mike Crouse led the third inning off with a single for the Patriots and stole both second and third base later in the frame. Scott Kelly then followed with an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit in half.

But the ‘Stormers got it right back in the top of the fourth when Ngoepe (3) hit a two-out solo home run to left.

With two outs in the fifth, Crouse (7) provided a big swing, powering a solo home run over the wall in left field. 

Somerset threatened in the seventh when Gabriel Bracamonte led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on an Alfredo Rodriguez sacrifice bunt, but the Patriots couldn’t drive in the run. 

In the eighth, the Patriots threatened again. With just one out, Somerset loaded the bases but couldn’t score.

Somerset rallied to begin the ninth inning and placed runners on second and third with two outs with Craig Massey at the plate. Massey was jammed on an offering from Lancaster closer Cody Eppley, but fisted a single into right field to tie the game 3-3. 

Luis Cruz shined out of the bullpen in the 10^th inning, keeping Lancaster off the board. The Patriots then loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning and Alfredo Rodriguez drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Cruz (2-3) earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Garrett Granitz (0-2) suffered the loss after he allowed the game-winning in the 10^th. Eppley received his seventh blown save of the season after giving up the lead in the ninth.

The 2019 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford continues at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday August 15 when the Patriots host the Barnstormers on Garden State Agriculture. The game features a Farmers Fair and a potted plant giveaway to the first 1,000 fans presented by RWJ Barnabas Health. For tickets, stop by the box office located at TD Bank Ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

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