LaHair Hits Walk Off Single In 12th Inning To Lead To 7-6 Win

Bridgewater, NJ – Bryan LaHair hit a walk of single in the 12^th inning to lead the Somerset Patriots (32-26, 70-58) to a 7-6 win over the Sugar Land Skeeters (32-26, 67-61) on Monday at TD Bank Ballpark.

Eric Farris led off the 12^th with a double and LaHair laced the fourth pitch of the at bat down the right field line for the game-winning hit.

“Ideally I’m looking for something to drive to the right side of the field to at least get the runner over,” said LaHair. “At the end of the day I’m just trying to do damage every time I come up. I got a pitch I could handle and I hit the ball hard.”

Trailing 6-4 in the ninth inning, the Skeeters tied up the game on a two out two-run triple by Rene Tosoni.

Farris hit an RBI single past the third baseman that broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning and gave the Patriots a 5-4 lead.

“We battled back in the game. I got deep in the count and I was looking to put something in play and luckily everything worked out,” said Farris. “We’ve been trying to grind out the last couple weeks of the season and we’ll take these wins any way we can get them.”

The Patriots took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run by David Vidal (23).

Jeremy Barfield hit a grand slam (21) in the top of the third inning that gave the Skeeters a 4-1 advantage.

Somerset cut the lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning on a double by Carlos Guzman.

It became a one run game in the fifth inning when Scott Kelly scored on a double play off the bat of Aharon Eggleston.

Vidal tied up the game on his second home run of the game (24) in the sixth inning.

“It felt great to feel like myself again,” said Vidal, the league leader in home runs. “I struggled a few games here and there, but I didn’t let that affect me. I just went out there and tried to be myself.”

The Patriots plated another run in the eighth inning on an RBI fielder’s choice by Yovan Gonzalez for a 6-4 advantage.

Bryce Morrow (4-2) picked up the win with two scoreless innings. Zech Zinicola (2-4) took the loss, allowing a run on two hits in an inning pitched.

The 2016 Somerset Patriots season presented by Ford continues at home on Tuesday night with a 6:35 pm game against the Sugar Land Skeeters. For tickets, call 908-252-0700 or visit www.somersetpatriots.com. Download our Mobile App for free in the Apple or Android App store.