Pats Get Back in Series With 12-3 Win

By Melinda Quasius on August 14, 2008

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Sean Smith led the Patriots with three leadoff runs in the first three innings, setting the pace for Somerset’s 12-3 victory over the Camden Riversharks Wednesday afternoon. The centerfielder went 1-3 with three runs and two walks for the game.

Camden pitcher and former major-leaguer Jose Lima (2-4) lasted only one and one third innings, his shortest outing in several years. Lima was blasted for eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits and three walks.

Designated hitter Brandon Larson, first baseman Josh Pressley and left fielder Vito Chiaravalloti hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning off of Lima’s replacement, Jeremy Lewis. It is the first time the Patriots achieved the feat since May 2002.

Patriots starting pitcher Kip Bouknight (2-0) threw five up and down innings, giving up two earned runs off nine hits and a walk, with at least one base runner each inning.
Riversharks center fielder Sheldon Fulse led off the game with a single to right field. Fulse was singled home by right fielder L.J. Biernbaum with one out before first baseman Tyler Von Schell hit into a 5-4-3 double play.

Somerset responded with a five-run inning. Smith was walked, followed by a single by shortstop Teuris Olivares. Larson doubled the two runners home, but was thrown out on his way to third base after Camden catcher Korey Finer mishandled a throw home.
Pressley and Chiaravalloti reached base with one out for catcher Kevin Kotch to drive home with a home run to right field, just under the scoreboard.

The Patriots scored at will in the second inning, as well. Smith doubled to right field, and advanced on an Olivares single down the right field line. Smith scored on a Larson double, extending the Somerset lead, 6-2. Lima intentionally walked Pressley to load the bases for Chiaravalloti, who promptly hit a broken bat single into left field, scoring Larson. Camden went to its bullpen, handing the ball to Lewis. Kotch was walked, allowing Pressley to cross home plate.

The Patriots went through the batting order before second baseman David Housel popped out to center field. Somerset led 8-1 heading into the top of the third inning.

In the third, the Riversharks scored a run on an error by right fielder Elliot Ayala, advancing a Von Schell single to second base and allowing Bierbaum to score from second. Smith scored his third run in the third inning when Pressley knocked a single into left center field. Smith reached on a walk and advanced to third on an Olivares double.
The next round of scoring came from the home run barrage in the fifth inning. All three long balls came after two outs. Larson’s out-of-the-park hit was his 25th of the season, leading the Atlantic League by just one over Pressley’s 24 homers.

Lewis pitched three and two-thirds innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits and three walks. He was replaced by Julio Guerrero after the fifth inning.

The Riversharks added a home run by Fulse in the ninth inning, but 12-3 would be as close as Camden would get to the Patriots.

Larson led the Patriots by hitting 3-5, with two runs and four RBI. Chiaravalloti also went 3-5 with two runs and two RBI. The Riversharks were led by Fulse, hitting 3-4 with two runs and one RBI.

The Patriots relievers Aaron Fultz, Rich Asadoorian and Brian Reith combined for four innings pitched, two hits and one earned run to close out the game.

Tying up the season series between the two teams, the victory ends a three-game losing streak and improved the Patriots day game record to 13-4. The four game series will be wrapped up Thursday night, a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, matching Camden pitcher Jake Dittler against Patriot lefty Brian Adams.

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