Skeeters Double Up Patriots 4-2

Sugar Land, TX – The Sugar Land Skeeters (9-7) doubled up the Somerset Patriots (14-2) 4-2 Friday evening at Constellation Field in the series opener of the three game weekend series. Both teams flew from series in the northeast to square off in the Lone Star State.

Patriots’ starter Scott McGregor had a no-hitter through four innings, but the Skeeters made adjustments and tallied four runs in the middle innings to take the lead they would never relinquish.

“It’s part of the business,” said Eric Farris of the team’s hectic travel schedule that started with a 4:30 a.m. bus to Newark Airport. “But we are all professionals. [Sugar Land] had to do the same thing too. At the end of the day they just did a little more than us.”

In the top of the third inning Bryan LaHair ripped an RBI single to give the Patriots a 1-0 advantage.

McGregor allowed a leadoff double in the fifth inning to Travis Scott, who would eventually score on a balk to tie up the game.

The Skeeters scratched across three runs in the sixth inning. Kent Matthes socked a two-run single and Rene Tosoni hit an RBI single to make the score 4-1.

Somerset cut the deficit to 4-2 in the ensuing half inning when Farris legged out an RBI infield single to the shortstop.

“Look, it’s in our DNA to never quit. We have a great group. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but tomorrow is a new day,” Farris remarked.

McGregor (1-1) took the loss, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing four runs. Roy Merritt (1-0) earned the win, throwing two relief innings against his former team. Merritt spent parts of the last four seasons with Somerset and was named the Atlantic League Championship Series MVP last year. Derrick Loop notched the save (3), tossing a perfect ninth inning.

The 2016 Somerset Patriots season presented by Ford continues on the road until Friday, May 13^th when the team returns to TD Bank Ballpark for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Lancaster Barnstormers. For tickets, call 908-252-0700 or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.