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CRESTWOOD, IL – Cole Bellair struck out a career-high eight hitters over six shutout innings and the Windy City ThunderBolts cruised to a 3-1 win over the Joliet Slammers at Ozinga Field Saturday night.

Bellair got all the support he would need in the first couple of innings. In the bottom of the first, Dan Robinson singled and advanced to third on a Zach Racusin base hit. When Rob Calabrese reached on an error, Robinson scored the first run of the night.

The ThunderBolts (2-1) added another in the second, when Jairus Richards singled and stole second base. He came home on a Robinson double that made it 2-0.

Bellair was challenged only once. In the top of the fourth inning, a walk and a double gave Joliet (1-2)  runners at second and third with no outs. Bellair bounced back to strike out the next two hitters. He ended the inning with a pop up.

Peyton Isaacson provided some insurance for the ThunderBolts with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning that made the score 3-0..

The Slammers broke the shutout with a Sean Green RBI triple in the seventh, but that was the extent of their offense.

Through three games, ThunderBolt pitchers have allowed only two earned runs and none of them have scored off a Windy City starter through 18 innings.

Bellair improved to 1-0 with the win while Cam Aufderheide (0-1) allowed two runs in five innings for the loss. Dylan Prohoroff tossed a perfect ninth inning for his first save.

The four-game series with the Slammers wraps up on JULIE Family Sunday at Ozinga Field. Jake Fisher makes his first Windy City start in four years and Joliet will counter with Austin Shea. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 CDT and the game will be broadcast on FrontierLeagueTV.com and WXAV 88.3 FM.

Box Score