LANCASTER, PA- The Somerset Patriots defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 12-2 in front of 3,407 fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Monday evening.
The Patriots struck first with five runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 5-0 lead. Somerset loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch to centerfielder Sean Smith, a walk to shortstop Teuris Olivares, and a one out walk to first baseman Josh Pressley. Third baseman Matt Hagen followed by lining a two run single to right that plated both Smith and Olivares. Designated hitter Vito Chiaravalloti then crushed a three run home run (11) to center to clear the bases.
The Barnstormers answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning to make it 5-1 when second baseman Lloyd Turner led off with a single to left, advanced to second on a one out single to right by shortstop Danny Gonzalez and scored on a RBI single to center by designated hitter Matt LeCroy.
Somerset added two more runs in the top of the second inning to extend their lead to 7-1. Smith hit a one out broken bat single to left, stole second and third and scored on a two out RBI double off the centerfield wall by leftfielder Michael Ryan. Pressley then ripped a RBI single to center that plated Ryan.
The Patriots plated a run in the top of the third inning to make it 8-1. Somerset loaded the bases on walks to rightfielder Ryan Radmanovich and Chiaravalloti and a hit-by-pitch to catcher Jason Belcher. Radmanovich came home on a double play ball to second off the bat of second baseman Gera Alvarez.
Lancaster scored a run in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Patriots lead to 8-2 when leftfielder Michael Woods led off with a double to left center, moved to third on a groundout to short by Gonzalez and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by LeCroy.
Somerset crushed three home runs in the top of the fourth inning to widen their league to 11-2. Pressley smacked a one out solo home run (10) to center and then Radmanovich crushed a two out solo home run (4) off the top of the light tower in right. Chiaravalloti then went back-to-back by slugging a solo home run to left his second of the game and twelfth of the year.
The Patriots scored their final run in the top of the ninth inning to make it 12-2 when Hagen led off with a mammoth home run (8) to left.
Patriots’ starter Brian Adams (5-3) picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking none in seven innings of work. Barnstormers’ starter Nick Renault (3-3) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs on five hits while walking five and striking out one in three innings pitched.
With the win the Patriots improved to 36-27 on 2008 season while the Barnstormers dropped to 27-37.
