Bridgewater, NJ – Somerset Patriots starting pitcher Kip Bouknight (4-0) pitched a complete game to lead the Patriots to a 3-1 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish before 7,112 fans at Commerce Bank Ballpark on Friday evening.
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo home run by third baseman Brandon Larson (26).
Somerset added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Center fielder Sean Smith singled and later scored on two errors to give Somerset a 2-0 lead.
The Patriots extended the lead with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Right fielder Elliott Ayala doubled and scored on an RBI single by shortstop Teuris Olivares.
The Bluefish got on the board with a run in the top of the ninth inning on a solo home run by first baseman Jesse Hoorelbeke (27) to cut the lead to 3-1.
Bouknight went nine innings and allowed an earned run on six hits and six strikeouts. Bluefish starter Ryan DiPietro (4-5) suffered the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits in seven innings pitched.
With the loss the Bluefish drop to 23-23 in the second half and 4.5 games behind Liberty Division leading Long Island. Bridgeport and Somerset will continue their three-game series tomorrow night at 7:05 P.M. The 'Fish look to end their two-game losing skid when Mike Connolly (2-2) takes the hill to face Josh Brey (6-4).
