FL Lake Erie Crushers

Battle tested Crushers win another close one, take series from Miners

May 23, 2013 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


MARION, Ill. - The Lake Erie Crushers scored another close victory over the Southern Illinois Miners at Rent One Park on Thursday evening, coming away with a 3-1 win to take the series from the defending Frontier League champs.

The victories marked the first back-to-back victories of the year for the Crushers (3-3) and also marked the first time that the Miners (3-3) had been beaten in consecutive games this year.

For the third game in a row, the Miners got on the board first. Tyler Hall and Tyler Stubblefield stroked back-to-back singles to start the home half of the first inning to put runners at the corners right away. Stubblefield took off for second, and Emmanuel Quilles's throw to second ended up in center field, which allowed Hall to score.

The Miners would threaten a few times throughout the rest of the game, but they weren't able to push any other runs across.

Lake Erie used a pair of singles to tie the game in the third inning. Seth Granger belted a one out single and made his way to second on J.C. Figueroa's groundout. Kevin Berard then belted a two-out base hit to right field which scored Granger to tie the game.

The Crushers struck again in the fourth. Andrew Davis began the inning with a single, and walks were then issued to Daniel Bowman and Russ Moldenhauer to load the bases. Anderson Hidalgo followed with a run scoring single to right field, but that was all the Crushers would get.

Lake Erie scored a big insurance run in the sixth inning, when Davis belted his first homerun of the season to give the Crushers a 3-1 lead.

Matt Rein (1-0) lasted five innings, and allowed an unearned run on three hits with five walks and struck out two to get the victory. In the fifth, with the Crushers up 2-1, the Miners loaded the bases, but Rein worked his way out of the jam by striking out Jason Ganek, and he then retired Carlos Mendez on a groundout.

Matt Smith (2) earned his second save in as many nights, but he was tested in the ninth. Ken Gregory stroked a one out single, before Hall walked to put the tying runs on. Smith retired Stubblefield on a groundout, before walking Gerardo Avila to load the bases. Smith responded by striking out Ganek to end the game.

Davis led the way for the Crushers once again, going 2-for-4, scoring twice and drove one in. Davis went 6-for-12 in the series. Hidalgo hit safely twice as well, going 2-for-4 on the night, giving him four hits in his first series of the season.

The Crushers will begin a three game series against the River City Rascals at T.R. Hughes Ballpark on Friday night. The Crushers will start right hander Alex Kaminsky(0-1, 7.20), and the Rascals will counter with right hander Cameron Bayne (0-1, 135.00). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, and 2011 Frontier League Organization of the year, play ball at All Pro Freight Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, Ohio. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 14 teams operating throughout the Midwest. Season tickets for the 2013 season are on sale now! For more information on tickets, promotions and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.

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Frontier League Stories from May 23, 2013


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