The seventh-inning rally started with back-to-back one-out hit batters and a two-out batter reaching on a strikeout/wild pitch to load the bases. Hoog (Northeastern) followed with a two-run double to left field to tie the game before Brian Schuab (Trinity) scored on a wild pitch, Cooper Kelly (Kansas) was hit by a pitch with bases loaded and Tommy Martin (Yale) walked forcing home the fifth run.
In all, Vermont sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh, finishing the inning with five runs on one hit, three walks, three hit batters and a strikeout wild pitch. The Lake Monsters added an insurance run in the eighth on a Schuab RBI single scoring Colby Brouillette (BFA/Clarkson).
Starter Tim Noone (Babson) allowed one run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts over the first five innings, while Wyatt Cameron (Middlebury HS/NE College) one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts over the final four innings of relief to earn the victory.
Lake Monsters head to Westfield for game two of the semifinal series Tuesday at 6:30pm. Vermont has guaranteed themselves at least one more home game depending on Tuesday’s outcome vs. the Starfires. A loss would force a game three Wednesday at Centennial, while a win would advance the Lake Monsters to the championship series (which would start in Burlington either Wednesday or Thursday).
Monster Performances
Kyle Hoog 3-for-4, BB, R, 2B, 2 RBI
Tim Noone 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
Wyatt Cameron (W) 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Monster Highlights
* Vermont had 5 hits over the first 3 innings, but left 8 runners on base (left loaded 2nd and 3rd), then held hitless innings 4-6 before Hoog 2-run double.
* Lake Monsters had 3 straight singles in the 8th inning and finished with 14 runners left on base (Westfield 8)
* Brouillette was 2-for-5 with a run scored as Vermont outhit Westfield 9-6
Beyond The Boxscore
* Including the regular-season, Vermont has trailed at some point in 24 of its 45 wins and are 7-14 when trailing after 6 innings
* Lake Monsters have won 11 of their last 12 games at Centennial and are 29-7 at home this season
* Prior to game, Jimmy Evans recognized as Tom Racine team MVP, while Brouillette was George Commo Award winner for the Top Vermonter on the Lake Monsters
* Vermont is 3-0 in FCBL semifinal games, while Lake Monsters now 10-2 in semifinal games overall in their 28-year history
* In other semifinal series, #3 Nashua beat #2 New Britain 11-3 (game 2 of their series at Nashua Tuesday)
Next Game: Tuesday at Westfield, 6:30pm
Next Home Game: Wednesday vs. Westfield (G3 Semis) or Wed/Thur vs. TBA (G1 Finals), 6:35pm