Volpe Slam Powers Patriots to Huge ‘W’

Via Somerset Patriots Media:

Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots (6-3) blasted a season-high four home runs, including an Anthony Volpe grand slam (1), to defeat the Erie SeaWolves (4-5) by a score of 11–4 in the series finale at TD Bank Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.

Josh Breaux put the Patriots on the scoreboard first with a solo home run (4), his second of the series.

Erie and Somerset then traded one-run frames in the second inning, with Kerry Carpenter bringing home Dane Myers on an RBI single and Brandon Lockridge scoring on a fielder’s choice.

Andres Chaparro stretched out the Patriots’ lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run (2), making it back-to-back days with a homer. Lockridge stole home in the same inning.

After Andre Lipcius scored on a balk in the top of the fourth, Lockridge added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run (1) to make it 7-2.

Gage Workman closed the gap on a two-run home run (2) in the top of the seventh.

Volpe capped the scoring for the Patriots with a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth for his first Double-A home run.

Somerset’s bullpen pitched 6.0 innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out five hitters. Nick Ernst (1-0) earned the win, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings and striking out three batters.

Randy Vasquez threw 3.0 innings as the starter and allowed two earned runs while Markus Solbach (0-1) suffered the loss, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing two earned runs.

With the win, Somerset takes the series over Erie, 4-2 and stays atop the division.