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CRESTWOOD, IL – Kyle Von Ruden allowed just two hits over eight shutout innings as the Windy City ThunderBolts defeated the Gateway Grizzlies 6-1 at Standard Bank Stadium Saturday night.

Von Ruden pitched out of a jam in the first inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases with only one out for Gateway (3-11) before Von Ruden got Terry McClure to bounce into a double play to end the inning.

The ThunderBolts (9-5) loaded the bases in their half of the first and made the most of the opportunity. Coco Johnson and Kyle Wood singled and Blair Beck walked before David Kerian drew a bases loaded free pass to force in a run. Larry Balkwill followed with a two-run single, extending the lead to 3-0.

In the second, Keenyn Walker launched his first home run of the year to right field to make the score 4-0.

After encountering trouble in the first, Von Ruden cruised through his next seven innings. He allowed just one more hit, an infield single the rest of the way and retired 22 of the final 24 men he faced.

Johnson led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a base hit for the Bolts, his fourth hit of the day. Tim Zier brought him home on a triple. Zier scored on a wild pitch, giving the Bolts a 6-0 lead.

Gateway broke up the shutout with one out in the ninth on a Blake Brown RBI single that made the final score 6-1.

Von Ruden (1-0) struck out five in his first win of the year. Will Landsheft (0-1) allowed four runs in five innings and took the loss.

The ThunderBolts will go for a sweep of the Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon. Jake Fisher (1-0, 3.27) will take the mound against Gateway’s Adam Eggnatz (0-1, 9.31). There will be a reptile show courtesy of Dave DiNaso's Traveling World of Reptiles at Standard Bank Stadium on Family Day presented by JULIE. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 and the game broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

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