wcthunderbolts.com

JOLIET, IL – Nick Akins’s walk-off single in the ninth led the Joliet Slammers to a 5-4 win over the ThunderBolts at Silver Cross Field Sunday afternoon.

The ThunderBolts scored two runs in the top of the first to jump out to an early lead for the second straight day. Mike Torres singled and Ryan Soares doubled him in. Chad Cregar’s RBI single made it 2-0.

Joliet scored four runs in the third when the first six batters of the inning reached base. Joe Meggs started the rally with a single and Darian Sandford’s bunt single moved Meggs to second. Meggs scored when Niko Vasquez’s sacrifice attempt turned into an error. Marquis Riley’s first of three hits in the game was a double that scored Sandford and Vasquez, putting the Slammers ahead 3-2. After back-to-back walks, Jerod Yakubik’s groundout scored Riley to make it 4-2. The inning ended when Doug Joyce made a diving catch, turning a suicide squeeze attempt into a double play.

The ThunderBolts tied the score in the top of the sixth. Soares reached on an error and Zach Aakhus’s two-out double scored him. Andrew Brauer followed with a single to score Aakhus and tie the game at four.

The ThunderBolts had chances after that, getting a runner to third base with just one out in the seventh and the eighth. A double play and a failed squeeze play ended both chances.

With the game still tied in the ninth, Vasquez started the game-winning rally, reaching on an error. Riley singled, moving Vasquez to second base in front of Nick Akins. Akins singled a 3-2 pitch to left field and Vasquez beat Miles Walding’s throw to the plate, ending the g me at 5-4.

Justin Erasmus (2-1) threw two pitches, recording one out and got the win. Reese McGraw (0-3) took the loss.

The ThunderBolts and Slammers will wrap up the series in Joliet Monday night. Windy City will start Matt Wickswat (4-9, 4.82) against Joliet’s Chuck Lofgren (5-5, 3.66). First pitch from Silver Cross Field is scheduled for 7:05 and the broadcast can be heard on wcthunderbolts.com.

Box Score