The Dark Side defeats the Rebel Alliance...this time

Ryan Ketchner got the got the ball for the Skeeters tonight and faced a very dominating opposing pitcher in Doug Arguello for the Somerset Patriots.

Things got off to a slow start for both teams...until "The Force" sided with the Patriots in the top of the 2nd. Ketchner pitched to 11 batters, allowing 7 runs on 5 hits...and an error by SS Iggy Suarez (who had 2 errors in the game). In the inning, Ketchner gave up a 1-out Grand Slam to Jeff Nettles.

Derrick Gordon came into the game in the 3rd inning and settled the Patriots bats down but got zero run support from the Skeeters bats. 

Gordon gave up 1 run in each of the last 2 innings (8th & 9th) to make the final score 9-0.

The Skeeters could do nothing at the plate and only tallied 5 hits for the entire game. Those 5 hits came from 3 Skeeters' batters...Bubba Bell (2-4), Drew Locke (2-4), & Matt Hagen (1-3, Walk).

Tonight was Star Wars themed, hence the nerding-out in the title, and saw Lord Vader toss out the first pitch. There were Star Wars themed fireworks after the game...it gave the crowd something to cheer for.

Hitting Streaks:

Matt Hagen (6)

Drew Locke (4)

The Skeeters & Patriots face each other TWICE tomorrow with a day/night double-header. The 1st game is scheduled for 12:05pm & the 2nd game is scheduled for 7:05pm. Both games will be 7-innings, unless there are "extra" innings because of a tie.