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JOLIET, IL – The Joliet Slammers scored four runs in the sixth inning to break a tie score and deal the ThunderBolts an 8-2 loss in game one of a three-game series at Joliet Route 66 Stadium Friday night.

The ThunderBolts (4-2) struck first with a two-out run in the first inning. Riley Krane singled and moved to second when Larry Balkwill walked. David Oppenheim singled home Krane to make it 1-0.

They doubled the lead in the fourth. Tyler Straub doubled and the Bolts loaded the bases with back-to-back infield singles. Will Krug’s sacrifice fly brought home Straub.

Joliet (2-5) answered in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and a man on second, Travis Bolin hit a popup that the ThunderBolts’ infielders lost in the lights. The ball dropped for an RBI double. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam tied the score with an RBI single.

The Slammers loaded the bases in the sixth with two outs and took their first lead of the night on an Alex Krupa infield single. Chaz Meadows followed with a grounder to third that Krane threw away, allowing three runs to score and extending the Slammer lead to 6-2.

They put the game away with two runs in the seventh. Trenton Hill hit an RBI double and Hoopii-Haslam hit a sacrifice fly.

The ThunderBolts stranded seven men on base in the five innings but had just one baserunner and no hits after the fifth as Matt Sandoval shut down their offense. Sandoval (1-1) retired 12 of the 13 men he faced and earned the win. Chris DeRue (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) in a third of an inning.

Jeremy Jacobs gave up two runs in five innings in his pro debut.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday night with Jake Welch making his seaosn debut on the mound for the ThunderBolts. Joliet counters with Liam O’Sullivan (0-1, 9.00). First pitch from Joliet Route 66 Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

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