FLORENCE, KY – Ryan Cuneo’s RBI double in the tenth gave the ThunderBolts a 2-1 win and a series sweep over the Florence Freedom Thursday night.
Pitching dominated this game until the final innings. Mike Recchia started for Windy City and, through seven innings he allowed only three hits and no runs.
The Bolts took the lead on Brandon Mathes, who had been almost as effective, in the top of the seventh. Brandon Decker blooped a double to left before Jareck West doubled him in to give Windy City the 1-0 lead.
Recchia extended his scoreless streak to 26 innings after seven, but lost it in the eighth. He walked John Malloy, who stood at second with two outs when Pierre LePage popped up to centerfield. West dropped the ball, allowing Malloy to score and tying the game.
Windy City loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn’t score, sending the game to extra innings.
In the tenth, C.J. Gillman doubled with one out and Cuneo came up with the game-winning hit, a two-bagger to rightfield, giving the ThunderBolts a 2-1 win.
Recchia struck out 14 men over eight innings, but took the no-decision. Mathes, likewise, allowed just one run and struck out seven over eight innings but did not factor in the decision.
Willy Kesler (1-0) pitched two perfect innings of relief for the win while Matt Kline (0-3) took the loss.
The ThunderBolts will return home Friday night for game one of a three-game set against the Evansville Otters. Friday night’s game is $1.25 beer night for Budweiser Fill ‘R Up Friday at Standard Bank Stadium. It is also St. Baldrick’s Shave to Save Night. The game begins at 7:05 and the pitching matchup will feature Dustin Williams (10-4, 4.88) for the Bolts against Evansville’s Adam Champion (5-4, 2.55). The broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
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