Sugar Land, Texas - The Sugar Land Skeeters (11-11, 41-51) stormed back for three unanswered runs over the final two innings to shock the Somerset Patriots (11-11, 53-38) with a a 4-3 walk-off win at Constellation Field. The Skeeters took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without recording a hit. A pair of walks, a runner-advancing groundout and a sacrifice fly from Kevin Ahrens provided Sugar Land with the early lead. Somerset later tied up the ballgame in the fifth on an Alfredo Rodriguez sacrifice fly. Kyle Roller gave the Patriots their first lead of the series in the eighth inning with a two-run sacrifice fly. Cole Gillespie made an impressive diving catch in right-center field to rob Roller of a base-hit, but with runners at second and third at the time, both were able to advance home when Gillespie was slow to get up after the catch. However, the two-run lead was short-lived. Sugar Land leveled the game in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from Ahrens and a pair of errors leading to a run. The Skeeters then won the ballgame in the ninth on a walk-off RBI single from Anthony Giansanti: his first hit of the game. Felipe Paulino (3-1) earned the win after he tossed a scoreless inning of relief. Ronnie Shaban (3-3) allowed one run over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss. Somerset continues its six-game series in Sugar Land Monday night. Will Oliver (4-2, 5.01 ERA) takes the mound for the Patriots against Skeeters’ righty Bobby Blevins (4-6, 5.40 ERA). First pitch at Constellation Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT and 8:05 p.m. ET. Tickets to the 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford, which includes the team’s 20th Anniversary, are on sale now. For more information, stop by the ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com. About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 37 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population. For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
