Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots (18-8) defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters (14-12) 6-0 in the first game of a day-night double header at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday afternoon. The Patriots got the scoring started in the third inning on RBI singles by Justin Pacchioli and Aharon Eggleston for a 2-0 lead. An RBI single by Scott Kelly in the next inning extended Somerset’s advantage to 3-0. The Patriots opened up the game in bottom of the fifth inning. Olmo Rosario plated Eggleston with a base hit before Jerry Sands launched a two-run home run (7) to deep center that made the score 6-0. “He was mixing up his sinker, cutter, and changeup on us all game. I was just trying to get something up to drive it and it got caught up in the wind and out of here,” Sands said. The Patriots brought a no-hitter into the sixth inning when Sugar Land broke through with their first hits of the game. Patriots starter Vin Mazzaro went three perfect innings in a no-decision. Reliever Will Oliver (1-0) picked up the win with three scoreless innings and two strikeouts in his return to Somerset. “I just wanted to keep the hits and the runs to a minimum, which we did as a staff and leave it to our hitters to produce,” said Oliver. Kyle Drabek (1-3) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on nine hits in five innings pitched. The 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford will continue at home on Thursday night with a 7:05 pm game against the Sugar Land Skeeters. The game includes a Post Game Fireworks Show presented by Unity Bank. For tickets, visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
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