ATLANTIC CITY - The Atlantic City Surf won its seventh straight game of the season by defeating the Somerset Patriots 2-1 Wednesday night at Bernie Robbins Stadium.

Surf stellar starter Lincoln Mikkelsen picked up the victory as he worked eight innings and only allowed five hits and one earned run. Mikkelsen also struck out 10 to up his record to 14-5 on the season.

The victory left the Surf's magic number at seven to clinch the South Division second half pennant over the Camden Riversharks. Should the Riversharks lose to Long Island Tuesday night, the magic number would be six.

Raul Marval's two-run homer off Somerset starter Sam McConnell in the sixth inning provided the Surf with all the runs they needed. It was Marval's 16th homer of the season and came after Somerset's Nick Ortiz had given the Patriots a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth with a solo shot, his eighth, off Mikkelsen.

Newcomer Jamie Tricoglou picked up his second save for the Surf by retiring the Patriots in the top of the ninth inning after Somerset had runners on first and third.

Atlantic City is now 31-21 in the second half; defending Atlantic League champion Somerset is 25-29 and eight games behind the Surf in the loss column in the race for the South Division second-half pennant.

NBC TV 40 news anchor Michelle Dawn Mooney sang the National Anthem prior to the game and the Surf are now 5-0 when the face of the South jersey news delivers the anthem.