ThunderBolts’ season ends with 6-5 loss
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FLORENCE, KY – The ThunderBolts got the tying run to third base in the ninth inning but fell one run short in their season finale against the Florence Y’alls, losing 6-5 to fall one game short of a postseason berth.
For the third straight day, the Bolts (55-46) jumped out to an early lead. The first three batters of the game reached, including Justin Fogel, who smacked a two-run double.
The score remained 2-0 into the fifth as Isaac Milburn threw four consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard.
In the fifth, Florence (55-47) broke through, sending ten men to the plate. They got RBI hits from Dillon Baker, Brendan Bobo, Zade Richardson and Garrett Broussard and took a 4-2 lead.
The Bolts got one back on a Fogel RBI single but Florence added two insurance runs in the seventh to make it 6-3.
Carlos Peña became the first ThunderBolt to hit 20 homers in a season since 2017 with a solo shot in the eighth that pulled the team back within two runs.
In the ninth, Michael Sandle was hit by a pitch and Fogel singled, getting the tying run on base. After a wild pitch, Jared Beebe singled to score Sandle and advance Fogel to third with no outs. Florence closer Aidane McEvoy stepped up after that, retiring three in a row to eliminate the Bolts from playoff contention.
CJ Blowers (5-2) picked up the win in relief for Florence. Justin Lovell (5-5) took the loss.
The ThunderBolts and Y’alls finish the season tied for the final Frontier League wild card spot, which Florence claims through an 8-4 head-to-head record.
The Bolts’ 55 win were their most in a season since 2012. They’ll return to action in May of 2027. Offseason updates can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.
