CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts scored eight runs in the second and third innings on their way to their second straight win over Lake Erie, 9-5 Wednesday night at Standard Bank Stadium.
The Bolts fell behind early when Russ Moldenhauer hit a two-out, two-run double to put Lake Erie up 2-0 in the first.
Windy City answered in the second. With runners at second and third and two outs, Travis Weaver knocked a single up the middle to tie the score. After Weaver stole second, C.J. Gillman singled him in and Gillman scored on a Chris Wade triple, making it 4-2.
They added four more in the third. The bases were loaded with two outs when Weaver struck out swinging. The third strike, though, was dropped and Chad Cregar hustled in to score. Gillman followed with a double to left center to score two runs. A third crossed the plate on the same play when Daniel Bowman bobbled the ball for Lake Erie.
The Crushers fought back scoring on RBI groundouts in the fourth and sixth from J.C. Figueroa and Brian Erie respectively.
Windy City made it 9-4 in the bottom of the sixth on a Mike Torres RBI single.
The Bolts faced one more jam, when Lake Erie loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Robby Kuzdale singled home one run, but Andy Mee got Wally Correa to ground into a double play to end the threat, and the ThunderBolts held on for the 9-5 win.
Stephen Sauer (8-7) allowed five runs in 6.1 innings, picking up the win and Paul Fagan (7-9) allowed eight runs, all unearned, over three innings for the loss.
The ThunderBolts remain one game out of a playoff spot.
The ThunderBolts will look for a sweep of the Crushers on Thursday night at 7:05 at Standard Bank Stadium. It is the final home game of the regular season and Fan Appreciation Night. It is also $1.00 beer night for Bud Light Thirsty Thursday. Mike Recchia (11-3, 2.64) will start for the Bolts against Lake Erie’s Matt Smith (1-0, 1.29). The broadcast can be heard on sportsjuice.com.
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