SCHAUMBURG, IL – Larry Balkwill drove in five runs to lead a ThunderBolts attack that scored nine unanswered runs to defeat the Schaumburg Boomers 12-4 at Boomers Stadium Saturday night.
The ThunderBolts (42-52) scored their first run after only two pitches. Tim Zier tripled and Cody Keefer singled him in.
Schaumburg (40-55) came back with three straight runs. They got two in the first on an RBI double from Jordan Dean and an RBI groundout from Mark Nelson. They got one in the fourth as Dean walked and Mikal Hill singled him home.
The Bolts reclaimed the lead in the fifth with three runs. Charley Thurber doubled and scored on a Blair Beck sacrifice fly before a Tim Zier RBI single tied the score. The Bolts took the lead for good on a Coco Johnson single that scored Zier.
They put up two more three-run innings consecutively. In the sixth, the bases were loaded on two walks and a hit batter. Balkwill came up with a bases-clearing double to put the Bolts ahead 7-3. RBI hits from Corey Bass and Zier made it 10-3 after seven.
Schaumburg picked up their final run on a Mike McClellan RBI single in the eighth but Balkwill put the game away once and for all in the ninth by following a Ransom LaLonde single with a two-run homer.
Jayson Yano (1-3) picked up his first professional win, going five innings and allowing three runs. Kagen Hopkins (5-6) allowed four runs over five innings and took the loss.
The ThunderBolts and Boomers wrap up their series and the season on Sunday afternoon. Game three will feature Kyle Von Ruden (1-6,3.97) on the hill for the Bolts against Schaumburg’s Gunnar Kines (4-6, 3.10). First pitch from Boomers Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
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