Brian Schuab (Trinity) got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with a three-run homer to left, his fourth home run since joining team July 3rd and third homer in last five game. Vermont added another three runs in the second on a Gio Cueto (Wake Forest) two-run double and Tommy Hawke (Wake Forest) sacrifice fly for a 6-0 advantage.
Lake Monsters made it 9-0 in the fourth on a Hawke two-run double and a double steal of home with Cueto scoring as Hawke stole second base. Vermont loaded the bases in the sixth before a Jimmy Evans (Tufts) two-run double increased the lead to 11-0. Starfires got their only run in the seventh on two singles and an RBI forceout.
Matson (Harvard) allowed just two hits, a one-out double in the second and leadoff single in third, over his six shutout frames to lower his FCBL-best ERA to 1.51 overall. With one walk issued and the six strikeouts, the Harvard righty has five walks and league-league 68 strikeouts over 44 2/3 innings in his nine Vermont starts.
Monster Performances
Sean Matson 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO
Gio Cueto 2×2, 2 BB, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI
Tommy Hawke 2×3, 1 R, 2B, 3 RBI
Monster Highlights
* Cueto reached base safely all 4 plate appearances (BB,2B,BB,1B) and has hit safely all 15 games started (27-for-54)
* Jackson Kline (Kansas) walked and scored a run in each of his first 3 plate appearances in 1st, 2nd and 4th
* Ian Parent (Endicott) went the final 2 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits with a strikeout
Beyond The Boxscore
* Vermont (35-14) has won 9 of their last 12 games and have franchise best record after 49 games (32-17 in 1996)
*11th time this season that Vermont has scored 10+ runs in a game and 6th mercy-rule victory
* A Lake Monsters victory over Norwich on Friday would unofficially clinch a playoff spot for Vermont, which also has a magic number of 8 to clinch the FCBL regular-season title
Next Game: Friday vs. Norwich, 6:35pm
Vermont Lottery Night