Vermont Lake Monsters

Vermont Blanks Norwich 9-0 On Friday

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NORWALK, CT — Vermont broke game open with a five-run top of the fourth inning and Isaac Jensen tossed five scoreless innings of relief as the Lake Monsters moved 20 games over .500 for the first time this season with a 9-0 Futures League shutout victory over the Norwich Sea Unicorns Friday night at Dodd Stadium.

After starter Alvin Gomez (AIC) allowed two hits over the first three innings and Jake Taylor (Columbia) had two strikeouts in a scoreless fourth, Jensen (Southern Maine) came on in relief to start the fifth and  retired 14 of the 17 batters faced with two hits and one walk allowed to earn his first win.

Vermont took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Travis Stroh (CVU/Dayton) sacrifice fly before scoring the five runs in the fourth on four hits and two walks. After loading the bases with a one-out walk followed by back-to-back singles, the Lake Monsters scored on a wild pitch, Tyler Wiltsey (Rutgers) RBI single, Justin Yeutter (Cal Poly Pomona) RBI groundout and James Henshon (Tufts) two-run double. 

Lake Monsters added a run in the sixth on two singles followed by a Wiltsey RBI groundout, then two more runs in the seventh on a Brad Johnston (Swarthmore) two-run double for a 9-0 advantage. 

MONSTER STARS
* Jensen (W) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO  (56 pitches/37strikes)
* Zach Geertsma (Mississippi State) 3-for-4, BB, 2 R
* Johnston 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI

MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
* Vermont has won 3 of last 4 games and  32-12 overall (1st time 20 over .500 since 40-20 last season)
* Lake Monsters 5th shutout win of season and 2nd in last 4 games (have not been shutout)
* Allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits in 2-game sweep at New Britain (last 16 innings scoreless)
* Wiltsey 1-for-3, BB, R, 2 RBI and  has hit in 8 straight games (10-for-27, .370) with 8 runs, 7 RBI
* Along with 8 hits, Vermont batters finished with season-high 10 walks and just 3 strikeouts
* Lake Monsters defense 0 errors for 3rd time  last 4 games, 8th last 14  and 20 times overall (18-2 record)
* After off day Saturday, Vermont hosts Nashua Sunday 4pm for doubleheader (makeup of June 19th rain out)

UPCOMING 
Next Game: Sunday vs. Nashua, 4:05pm (Doubleheader)
Promotion: Special Olympics Night! (Lake Monsters Basketball Jersey Giveaway)
Broadcast:  Game 1 only – WYCI (TV), Both Games – FCBLnetwork.com (streaming), WJOY 1230am (Radio)