Bolts 13 Grizzlies 3
SAUGET, IL – The ThunderBolts knocked out a season-high 19 hits in a 13-3 victory over the Gateway Grizzlies at GCS Ballpark Friday night.
The Bolts scored multiple runs in five of the first seven innings, beginning with a three-run second. Zach Aakhus singled and Andrew Brauer reached on an error. After Doug Joyce reached on a fielder’s choice, the scoring began with a Jayce Ray RBI single. Chase Tucker walked and Evan Button hit a sacrifice fly. Mike Torres’s RBI single made it 3-0.
They plated three more in the third, this time on five hits, including four consecutive singles. The RBI hits came from Ray, Tucker and Button.
Chad Cregar made it 8-0 in the fourth. After Ryan Soares led off with a double, Cregar hit his sixth home run of the year.
Andrew Brauer’s three-run homer two innings later gave Windy City an 11-0 lead. Aakhus, who had singled and Cregar, who had walked, scored on the play.
The Grizzlies finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Wing doubled and came home on a Jet Butler fielder’s choice.
The Bolts answered with a two-run seventh. Soares and Cregar each had RBI singles to put Windy City ahead 13-1.
Gateway concluded the scoring with two in the seventh. Jonathan Johnson hit an RBI double and Wing had a sacrifice fly.
Zach Aakhus led the Bolts with four hits and every member of the starting lineup had at least one hit.
Daniel Cropper (7-4) pitched six innings for his first win since July 14 and Aaron Baker (1-4) allowed six earned runs for the loss.
The ThunderBolts will look for two in a row against Gateway Saturday night. Brian Oliver (4-8, 4.73) will take the ball for the Bolts against Gateway’s Ja’Vaun West (7-3, 2.82). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 and the broadcast can be found on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
Box Score
