Meyers Mashes a Pair of Homers as Erie Outlasts Somerset

Erie (35-29) set season-highs in home runs and stolen bases as they held on in a 9-7 win over Somerset (32-34) on Thursday.

The SeaWolves began the scoring early when Chris Meyers connected on a three-run blast against Patriots starter Blane Abeyta.

Jake Higginbotham was the opener for Erie. He allowed a run in the second inning on Anthony Seigler’s run-scoring double. That cut Erie’s lead to 3-1.

In the fifth inning, Hao-Yu Lee drove a two-run blast against Abeyta. Two batters later, Meyers hit his second homer of the game to make it 6-1.

Erie scored three more in the sixth. Brady Allen drove home a run on an RBI single. Later in the frame, Jake Holton hit a two-run blast against Danny Watson, extending Erie’s lead to 9-1. Holton’s homer was Erie’s fourth of the game, which set a new season-best for Erie.

Somerset began to claw back in the later innings. Garrett Burhenn had tossed three scoreless innings in relief before the seventh. In the seventh, Alexander Vargas tripled and scored on Spencer Jones’ RBI single, which made it 9-2.

RJ Petit entered for the eighth and struggled. After Grant Richardson’s leadoff infield single, Petit issued three consecutive walks. The third, to Aaron Palensky, plated the first run of the frame. Vargas then reached on a fielder’s choice groundout, which brought home another run. With two out, Jesus Rodriguez made it 9-5 on a soft single.

Tim Naughton got the final out in the eighth and remained on the mound for the ninth. Elijah Dunham singled with one out. Seigler then blasted a two-run homer to cut Erie’s lead to 9-7. Palensky singled to bring the tying run to the plate. With two out, PJ Poulin entered to face Jones. He struck out Jones, but Jones reached on a dropped third strike, which brought the tying run to the plate. Rodriguez then grounded out to end the game.

Erie stole eight bases in the game, which is the most in a single game for Erie since at least 2005. Carlos Mendoza and Stephen Scott each stole two bases, Lee stole one, and Gage Workman stole three.

Burhenn (2-1) earned the win. Abeyta (3-6) took the loss. Poulin notched his fourth save.

Erie trails Harrisburg by one game in the Southwest division with three games remaining in the first half.

The series continues on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Troy Melton faces Zach Messinger.