Sugar Land, Texas – Four unanswered runs over the final three innings of the ballgame led the Somerset Patriots (20-13) past the Sugar Land Skeeters (18-16) 6-3 in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Constellation Field.

Somerset opened the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI groundout from Jerry Sands. A run-scoring Justin Pacchioli groundout in the top of the third doubled the Patriots lead to 2-0, but Sugar Land responded on a three-run Travis Scott home run (3) in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead. 

The Patriots later rallied to take the lead on a fifth-inning RBI single from Alfredo Rodriguez and a sixth-inning RBI double from Bryan LaHair.

“Honestly, I was just trying to battle,” said Rodriguez of his game-tying base hit. “As soon as I got to two strikes, I knew it was just me against the pitcher. I got a pitch that was up that I was able to do something with and it worked out.’

Sands topped off the scoring in the seventh with a two-run double, while Somerset’s bullpen finished off the game with three perfect innings of relief to earn its second-straight comeback victory.

Alex Gouin (3-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Brett Marshall (4-2) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in 5.1 innings pitched. Ronnie Shaban (3) recorded the save with a perfect ninth.

Game two between Somerset and Sugar Land begins at 7:05 CT (8:05 ET) from Constellation Field. Right-hander Jerome Williams (1-1, 4.09 ERA) toes the rubber for the Patriots against righty Michael Nix (2-4, 3.70 ERA) for the Skeeters.
 
Tickets to the 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford, which includes the team’s 20th Anniversary, are on sale now. TD Bank Ballpark will be the host of the 2017 Atlantic League All-Star Game presented by RWJBarnabas Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey on Wednesday, July 12th. For more information, stop by the ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

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