NEWARK, NJ – September 21, 2007 – Shortstop Ramon Castro hit an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie and give the Newark Bears a 7-6 victory over the Somerset Patriots in Game One of the Atlantic League Championship Series at Commerce Bank Ballpark on Friday night. The Patriots had a runner on second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Bears’ third baseman Corey Smith made a diving stop and threw to first from his knees to end the game.

The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a run scoring single by third baseman Brandon Larson. Larson finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Bears responded with three runs in the top half of the second inning. Left fielder Ruben Mateo lined an RBI double that scored Smith and two batters later Pachot drilled a double off the left-centerfield wall to drive in two. Mateo went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.

Somerset took a 6-3 lead with a five run fourth inning. Larson led off the inning with a solo home run to left center and designated hitter Josh Pressley knocked in a run with a double. After a sacrifice-fly, centerfielder Mike Lockwood lined a double down the right field line to score two.

The Bears wasted no time in tying the game, putting up three runs in the top of the fifth. Designated hitter Joey Gomes scored on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a single. Second baseman Javier Colina had an RBI single and later scored on a single by Mateo to tie the game.

The Bears’ bullpen threw five and one-third scoreless innings with right-hander Justin Huisman (1-0) picking up the win, his first of the postseason, and Jeremy Hill earning his second save. In the Bears three postseason games, Hill is 1-0 with two saves.

The Bears and Patriots will play Game Two of the Championship Series on Saturday night at 7:05 PM. The Bears will send left-hander Dusty Bergman (0-0) to the mound to face Patriots’ scheduled starter Keith Ramsey (0-0).