Bergner's Gem Leads Erie to Another Title

The SeaWolves (2-0) defeated Somerset (0-2) 3-2 to win their second consecutive Eastern League Championship.

Erie took an early lead on Chris Meyers’ two-out RBI single in the first inning against Somerset starter Cam Schlittler.

The SeaWolves tacked on two more in the second thanks to Schlittler’s command issues. He issued two walks and hit a batter to load the bases with one out. Austin Murr walked to force home a run and make it 2-0. With two out, Meyers hit his second RBI single of the game to make it 3-0, but Grant Richardson threw out Carlos Mendoza at home to end the inning as he tried to score a second run on the hit.

Erie starter Austin Bergner (2-0) turned in a gem. He threw six shutout frames while allowing two singles and one walk. He struck out eight batters. Over two postseason starts, Bergner allowed two hits, three walks, and zero runs over 12 innings with 17 strikeouts.

Jake Higginbotham surrendered a two-run home run in the seventh inning to Tyler Hardman, cutting Erie’s lead to 3-2.

Tyler Owens threw two perfect innings with four strikeouts to record a six-out save. Owens locked down his third save of the postseason.

Erie became the first team since the Trenton Thunder in 2007 and 2008 to repeat as Eastern League Champions.