The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ – The Lancaster Barnstormers (5-8) rallied late to top the Somerset Patriots (9-3) 5-3 at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday evening to end Somerset’s win streak at seven games.
Tied at 3-3 in the ninth inning, the Barnstormers grabbed the lead on a two-run single by Caleb Gindl.
Lancaster had taken an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by Dan Gamache.
The Patriots answered quickly in the bottom of the frame. Ramon Flores started the scoring with an RBI double that tied up the game. Rey Navarro followed with a two-run double to put Somerset up 3-1.
“It was a big hit by Navarro to score those two runs to put us up. I thought that was a big moment,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “I felt like if we could have held them off just one more inning and gone into the bottom of the ninth tied, we had a chance. You want to win those, especially at home. We just didn’t make the pitches we needed to get it done tonight.”
A Josh Bell double for Lancaster in the top of the sixth inning cut the lead to 3-2. He would strike again in the top of the eighth inning with another RBI double that knotted the game up at 3-3.
Logan Sawyer (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning pitched. Jake Joyce (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs on three hits in an inning pitched. Cody Eppley earned his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning pitched.
The 2019 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford will continue at home with a 7:05 pm game on Friday, May 10th against the Lancaster Barnstormers. The game features Guaranteed Win Night. For tickets, stop by the box office located at TD Bank Ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
