Belters 10 Bolts 3
NORMAL, IL – The Normal CornBelters scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and defeat the ThunderBolts 10-3 at The Corn Crib Sunday evening.
Normal (8-13) got on the board with a Dillon Haupt home run in the second.
The Bolts (15-6) tied the score in the fourth. Tim Zier and Corey Bass singled before Reggie Lawson’s double scored Zier and made it 1-1.
The CornBelters reclaimed and extended the lead, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. A solo home run for RJ Perucki made it 2-1 and Haupt’s RBI double put the Belters up 3-1.
Two ThunderBolts runs with two outs in the seventh tied the score. Blair Beck singled and Johnny Eierman reached on a fielder’s choice to put two men on base in front of Larry Balkwill, who blooped a single to centerfield. Beck scored on the hit and an error on the centerfielder brought home Eierman to make it 3-3.
The tie did not last as Normal sent 12 men to the plate in their seven-run seventh. They secured eight hits in the inning, including Haupt’s second homer. Dylan Kelly, Aaron Dudley and Mike Fish all had RBI hits as well to put the game out of reach at 10-3.
Francisco Carillo (2-0) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for the win out of the CornBelter bullpen. Chris Chigas (1-2) gave up two runs in relief to take the loss.
Mitchell Cody made his first professional start for the Bolts and threw well, allowing two runs in five innings but did not factor in the decision.
The ThunderBolts have two days off before they return to action in a doubleheader at Washington on Wednesday. Brady Muller (1-2, 4.17) and Clay Chapman (1-1, 4.03) are scheduled to start the twin bill against the Wild Things. Game one is slated for a 5:05 first pitch and both games will be broadcast through wcthunderbolts.com.
Box Score
