The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- The Sugar Land Skeeters (15-12) defeated the Somerset Patriots (18-9) 7-4 in the second game of a day-night double header at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday.
The Skeeters jumped out in front in the first inning on a two-run home run by Jeremy Barfield (7).
Sugar Land extended the lead with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Lance Zawadzki for a 3-0 advantage.
Andy Wilkins then powered the Skeeters to a 7-0 lead with a solo home run (4) in the sixth inning and a three-run shot (5) in the seventh inning.
The Patriots got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI base hit by Chris Grayson that made the score 7-1.
Another run crossed the plate for Somerset in the eighth inning on a Carlos Guzman RBI single to center to cut the lead to 7-2.
The Patriots rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on a double by Jerry Sands that brought the tying run to the plate. Ultimately, reliever Mark Haynes was able to end the threat for the 7-4 final.
“We got to their bullpen and got a few runs off them, but it was a little too late,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “I do like how we fought and came back and had a chance to really make a game out of it at the end.”
Michael Nix (2-4) picked up the win, scattering four hits over five scoreless innings of work. Lucas Irvine (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing seven earned runs on ten hits in seven 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.
