NEW BRITAIN, CT — Vermont sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the top of the third inning to snap a 2-2 tie and hand the New Britain Bees their first Futures League loss of the season with a 11-6 Lake Monsters win Tuesday night at New Britain stadium.
After a flyout to open the top of the third, the next nine Lake Monster batters reached base on combination of three singles, two walks, two hit batters and two walks to plate seven runs for a 9-2 advantage.
The first run of the third came on an RBI single from Will Binder (UAlbany), who had also given Vermont a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run single. Kyle Lodise (Augusta) and Antonio Perrotta (Virginia) also had RBI singles in the third inning.
New Britain (5-1) cut deficit to 9-6 with 3 runs bottom 8th, but Vermont (4-3) added 2 more runs top 9th on Ryan Eaton (CVU/Manhattan) bases loaded walk and Cooper O’Brien (Vergennes/Colby-Sawyer) bases loaded hit by pitch.
MONSTER PERFORMANCES
- Binder 2-for-5, 1 R, 3 RBI
- Logan Keller (Navy) 2-for-4, 2 BB, 1 RBI
- Francis Ferguson (Eastern Nazarene) 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO (earned win)
MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Ferguson allowed two unearned runs bottom 1st and another run in third over his 5 innings to earn 1st win of season
- Oliver Pudvar (CVU/Manhattan) made his season debut, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk with 2 strikeouts in scoreless 7th inning
- Callen Fang (Harvard) retired final batter of 8th and had 1-2-3 9th for his 2nd save
- 1st time Vermont scored 7 or more runs in an inning since 7-run 2nd at Nashua August 2, 2022
- New Britain pitchers issued 9 walks and hit 5 batters (also had 14 strikeouts)
Next Game: Wednesday at New Britain, 6:35 pm
Next Home Game: Saturday vs. Westfield, 6:05pm