WESTFIELD, MA — The Lake Monsters jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before falling behind 8-7 in the sixth inning, but Vermont scored a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth innings for an 11-8 Futures League victory over the Westfield Starfires Wednesday night at Fitton Field.
Vermont got an unearned run in the first and three more runs in the third, including Antonio Gianni (Central Arizona) and Tommy Martin (Yale) RBI singles. Kyle Lodise (Augusta) made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run double.
The Starfires got right back into the game in bottom of fourth with a five-run inning, capped by a Nick Serce three-run homer. After a Gianni double and Martin RBI single in the fifth, Westfield got a two-run double in bottom of fifth and two-out RBI double in sixth for an 8-7 advantage.
Vermont quickly restored its lead in the seventh, opening the inning with a Kyle McCausland (Middlebury) double, Antonio Perrotta (Virginia) single and Colby Brouillete (BFA/Central Connecticut) RBI single before an Eric Becker (Virginia) one-out RBI double for 9-9 lead.
Brouillette gave the Lake Monsters a pair of insurance runs with a two-out, two-run double to deep center in the eighth. Edward Hart (Duke), making his Vermont debut, allowed the go ahead RBI double in sixth to the first batter he faced before retiring seven of next eight Starfires to earn the victory.
Vermont (22-8) returns home for a two-game series at historic Centennial Field vs. the New Britain Bees at 6:35pm on Thursday (first 500 fans receive free white Lake Monsters cap) and Friday (Vermont Maple Kings Night).
MONSTER PERFORMANCES
- Perrotta 3-for-5, BB, 3 R
- Brouillette 2-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI
- Jordan Kang (Harvard) 2-for-4, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI
MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Vermont has won 6 of last 7, 12 of last 15 and 17-5 in month of July
- 8th time in 30 games that the Lake Monsters have scored 10+ runs
- Vermont offense 16 hits (season-best 6 doubles), 8 walks and 1 hit batter, but also had a season-high 17 strikeouts (7 Westfield pitchers combined for 222 pitches)
- Lake Monster pitchers allowed 8 hits, 7 walks, hit 4 batters with 12 strikeouts (165 pitches)
- Every Vermont batter had at least 1 hit (6-multi) and 1 strikeout (6-multi) in game
- Thomas Santana (Columbia) record 5 strikeouts in 1.2 innings, including 3 straight K’s with runners 2nd/3rd to end bottom 5th tied 7-7
- Lake Monsters 19-1 when scoring 5+ runs, while 5-4 when opponent 5+ runs
Next Game: Thursday vs. New Britain, 6:35pm