JOLIET, IL – The Joliet Slammers scored six runs in the third and six in the fifth as they opened up a 13-0 lead and defeated the ThunderBolts 14-4 Thursday night at Silver Cross Field.
The scoring began in the second inning when Kyle Maunus hit a solo homer off of Bolts starter Matt Costello. In the third, the Slammers sent ten batters to the plate, the first seven of whom reached safely. Bobby Leeper and Brad Netzel started the inning with singles ahead of Josh Flores, who hit a long home run to center, making it 4-0. Later in the inning, Maunus had an RBI double and scored on a David Fox single, chasing Costello from the game. They got one more run on a John Wagle sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Joliet continued to pour on the offense. They got hits from Leeper, Ben Hewett and Fox, who had two, sending eleven batters to the plate. Maunus and Sean Estand also brought home runs on bases loaded walks.
The ThunderBolts finally got some offensive support in the sixth. Zach Aakhus doubled and pinch runner Larry Pempek scored on Chris Wade’s infield single. In the seventh, Pascual Del Real singled home Brandon Anderson, who had tripled.
Windy City added two runs in the ninth, thanks to an Estand error and a Garrett Regan RBI single, but that was all they could muster in the 14-4 loss.
For Joliet, Fox, Maunus and Leeper all had three hits and Flores had four RBI.
Despite the final score, the ThunderBolts had some good individual performances. Anderson went 3-5 with two runs scored and Wade and Chad Cregar each had two hits.
Billy Petrick pitched seven strong innings for the win (2-5) and Costello took the loss (2-2).
The Bolts continue their series with the Slammers Friday night with another 7:05 game at Silver Cross Field. Todd Privett (3-2) will start for Windy City against Joliet’s Jake Renshaw (3-1). The game can be heard on WXAV 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
