ERIE, PA - The Erie SeaWolves (38-20, 74-52) returned home with a 7-5 loss against the Somerset Patriots (31-27, 68-59) on a night that started with four quick runs from the Erie offense and finished with a mid-innings push from the Patriots that was too much to overcome on Tuesday at UPMC Park.
Erie's bats struck the first blow in the second inning when EJ Exposito doubled to begin the frame and Izaac Pacheco walked to put runners at first and second with no one out. Luke Shliger cranked a single up the middle of the infield to score Exposito and push Pacheco to third. Pacheco scored on a groundout from Patrick Lee, who stole second base and moved to third on an error. Lee scored when the Somerset starter Cade Smith was charged with a balk to make it 3-0 Erie.
Somerset quickly struck back. Jace Avina singled home Manuel Palencia after a leadoff single in the third. Omar Alfonzo knocked home Core Jackson with a fly-ball single to narrow the Erie lead to 3-2.
Zyhir Hope blasted a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the third; his 27th of the season overall, to give the SeaWolves a 4-2 lead.
SeaWolves starter Lucas Elissalt managed the first four innings with two runs allowed. The right-hander struck out six in his first start since working just one inning against the Altoona Curve last week.
Somerset found its rhythm again against Yosber Sanchez. After an error and double pushed Elissalt out of the game in the fifth, Sanchez allowed a one-out ground ball single to score one run and cut the Erie lead to 4-3. Jace Avina attempted to score as the tying run, but was thrown out by Seth Stephenson at home plate.
Somerset put together two more hits to start the inning in the sixth. Coby Morales scored on a single from Jackson Castillo, and DJ Gladney and Castillo were scored on a fly-ball single from Core Jackson. The Patriots carried a 6-4 lead to the bottom of the sixth.
Exposito singled to start the bottom of the frame before Pacheco doubled him over to third. Exposito scored on a ground out from Stephenson to cut the Erie deficit back to one.
Somerset made the final splash on offense in the seventh when Avina smashed his 20th home run of the season off of newly-entered pitcher Johan Simon.
Erie mustered two baserunners over the final three innings against the Somerset bullpen, but failed to score another run and dropped the opening game of the series 7-5. Yosber Sanchez was tagged with the loss, while Tony Rossi earned his sixth win of the season.
The SeaWolves continue their series against Somerset on Wednesday night at 6:05 PM. Right-handed-pitcher Max Alba gets the start for Erie against right-hander Chase Hampton for Somerset.
2026 Playoffs presented by UPMC tickets, Single-game tickets, suites, picnics, The Club by Synchrony events, and Bud Light Party Deck groups are now available by visiting SeaWolves.com, calling 814-456-1300, or visiting the UPMC Park Box Office in person.