BURLINGTON, VT — A Xander Meissner three-run double and Will Mahala two-run inside-the-park home run highlighted a nine-run bottom of the sixth inning for the Vermont Lake Monsters in a 10-6 victory over the Westfield Starfires in Futures League action Sunday evening on Delta Dental Diamond at historic Centennial Field.
Westfield had scored two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead before the Lake Monsters sent 13 batters to the plate and collected eight of their 10 hits for the game in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back singles and a hit batter loaded the bases to start the inning before Meissner (Bethany Lutheran) lined a bases-clearing double to straight away center for a 4-3 Vermont lead.
One out later Mahala (Virginia) lined a pitch past a diving Starfires centerfielder and was able to round the bases for Vermont’s second inside-the-park homer of the season. Back-to-back singles and a walk reloaded the bases before back-to-back doubles from Zander Teator (Babson) and Shaun McMillan (St. John’s) plated the final four runs of the nine-run inning.
Westfield (8-25-2) cut the 10-3 deficit to 10-6 with two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth before falling to Vermont (22-13) for the ninth time in nine meetings this season.
MONSTER PERFORMANCES
* Jack Kelleher (Northern Essex CC) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1, ER, 4 BB, 5 SO
* Teator 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
* Masai Marshall (Northwestern) 2-for-3, BB, R, RBI
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
* The 9 runs in 6th were most in an inning for the Lake Monsters since a 10-run 3rd inning on June 25, 2023 vs. Worcester in a 17-0 victory
* Mahala’s inside-the-park home run is 2nd this season for Vermont, joining Hunter Kingsbury (Bryant) inside-the-parker June 28th at New Britain
* Also 3rd Lake Monsters 3rd inside-the-park home run at Centennial in franchise’s 31-year history, joining Dusty Robinson (2-run) September 3, 2011 and Justin Higley (grand slam) June 22, 2014
* 6th double-digit run game of the season for Vermont and 1st since June 29th
* Vermont has scored 8 or more runs in 15 of its 34 games (12-3 record)|
* McMillan increased Futures League season lead with 11th double and 43rd RBI
|* Lake Monsters now have 5 of top 8 FCBL leaders (#2 Cavossa .389, #4 McMillan .317, #5 Kingsbury .313, #6 Guevara .312 and #8 Richman .303)
Next Game: Tuesday at New Britain, 6:35pm (FCBLnetwork.com)
Next Home Game: Friday vs. Norwich, 6:35pm