FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers Defeat Otters 7-5

Published on August 2, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio-- The Lake Erie Crushers used a two-run eighth inning to take a back and forth battle against the Evansville Otters 7-5 Saturday night at All Pro Freight Stadium.

The win for the Crushers (37-30) was their fourth in a row and helped notch their second straight series opening win. The loss for the Otters (40-25) was just their third in seven games against Lake Erie this season.

After the Crushers broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth inning with two runs, the Otters almost came marching back against Lake Erie closer Trevor Longfellow. Longfellow allowed back to back singles to start the inning, but buckled down and was helped out in a huge way by Craig Hertler, who made a fully-extended diving catch in centerfield to save at least one run.

The Crushers struck first with a run in each of the first two innings. Craig Hertler led off the inning with a single and after back to back one out walks, the bases were loaded for Juan Sanchez. Sanchez lifted a fly ball to deep left field to score Hertler and give Lake Erie the 1-0 advantage.

Lake Erie also used a pair of walks in the second to extend their lead. Evansville starter Taylor Dennis walked Joey Burney and Adam Ford to start the inning. Burney then stole third and scored on a fly ball hit to right field by Trevor Stevens.

Evansville answered back in the next half inning. After Matt Rein retired the first two hitters he issued back to back walks to Cory Urquhart and Josh Allen. John Schultz and Shayne Houck followed the walks with back to back 2-out RBI singles to bring them in and tie the game.

The Otters then used the long ball to take the lead in the fifth inning. Matt Rein allowed a one-out double to Josh Allen which ended his day. Chris Mongiardo called on right-hander Brad Duffy to pitch in relief. Duffy retired the first hitter he faced, but then allowed a two-run home run to Shayne Houck, his 17th on the season, to give Evansville the lead.

However, the back and forth battle continued. Lake Erie plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to retake the lead, all the hits coming with two outs. First, Vincent Mejia hit a line-drive home run to left field off Taylor Dennis to cut the lead to one. Then, Dennis hit Joey Burney and walked Adam Ford and Trevor Stevens. That loaded the bases for Craig Hertler. Hertler came through with one of the biggest hits of the night, singling to center to score Burney and Ford and give the Crushers the lead at 5-4.

As was the theme of the night, the Otters would quickly answer. Ryan Connolly allowed stand up double to David Cruz to begin the seventh inning. He advanced to third on a bunt from Urquhart, and then scored moments later on a wild pitch. Connolly would settle down to stop any further damage but the game was once again tied at 5 apiece.

The game stayed that way for a full inning, before the Crushers took the lead once again in the eighth inning. Facing reliever Jose Velez, Vincent Mejia popped the 1-0 pitch foul, however first baseman Nik Balog dropped the foul ball to give the slugger a second chance. He worked the count full and hammered the 3-2 pitch off the left field foul pole to give Lake Erie the lead. They added a big insurance run later in the inning when Ryan Hutchison came off the bench to deliver a big one-out single to score Joey Burney who had walked.

The Otters made things interesting in the ninth. Trevor Longfellow allowed the first two hitters to reach with bases hits. He then caught a failed bunt attempt by David Cruz for out number one. Center fielder Craig Hertler then made the play of the game. He dove to his right to nab a gap shot by Cory Urquhart to save at least one run. Longfellow then struck out Josh Allen on a 2-2 pitch to finish off the victory.

Brad Zambron (1-0) earned the victory after retiring the last two batters in the eighth inning. Jose Velez (1-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Lake Erie was led offensively by Vincent Mejia and Craig Hertler. Mejia went 2-4 with two home runs, his last being the eventual game winner. Hertler also had two hits, including a two-out two run single in the sixth inning and also made the game saving catch in the ninth inning. Andrew Davis and Ryan Hutchison had the other two Lake Erie hits.

The Crushers continue their series with the Otters tomorrow afternoon. Right hander Jason Wilson (6-4, 2.97) will pitch for Lake Erie and the Otters will counter with lefty Blake Monar (1-4, 5.21). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Check out the Lake Erie Crushers Statistics

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