FL Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers score two in 11th to avoid Traverse City sweep

Published on May 31, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio - The Lake Erie Crushers, presented by Mercy Health, scored a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning of Thursday night's game against the Traverse City Beach Bums, winning in their final at bat in a 6-5 victory at Sprenger Healthcare Stadium.

The victory for the Crushers (11-7) snapped a three game slide at home, while the loss for the Beach Bums (9-9) snapped a three game winning streak.

Bryan DeLaRosa was the hero of the night, as he delivered the game winning two out, two-run single in the bottom of the 11th inning to end the game.

After leaving the bases loaded twice over the first three innings, the Crushers scratched the first run across in the bottom of the fourth. Cameron Newell reached on a one out single through the right side, and scored moments later on Dane Hutcheon's RBI triple to right-center.

Lake Erie added two more in the bottom of the fifth. Dalton Wheat smashed a solo homer to left field, his third of the season to plate the first run of the inning. Aaron Hill then walked and came around to score later in the inning on Newell's RBI single to right.

Traverse City got on the board in the top of the seventh as Max Dutto smashed a two out RBI double to left center. Lake Erie answered in the next half inning as Hill scored on Hutcheon's RBI groundout.

The Beach Bums used a pair of homeruns to tie the game in the top of the eighth inning. Arby Fields started the inning with a solo homer to right, his first of the year, and Luke Lowery tied the game with a two-run homer to left, also his first of the year.

The game remained tied at 4-4 until the top of the 11th. Steve Lohr delivered a run scoring double to center field, scoring Lowery to give the Beach Bums their first lead of the night.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, the Crushers had Hurley at third with one out when Hill stole second base. After Jonathan Michael Knighton (3-2) struck out Conner Simonetti, DeLaRosa smashed a 1-1 pitch through the left side of the infield to score both Hurley and Hill to end the game.

Max Biedrzycki (1-0) took the victory for the Crushers after recording the final out in the top of the 11th inning. Knighton took the loss after allowing a pair of runs on three hits over 1.1 innings of work. Sean Renzi started the game for the Crushers and allowed just a run on five hits over seven strong innings and struck out nine along the way.

Five Crushers hit safely twice on the night. Hutcheon, Hurley, Wheat, Hill, DeLaRosa and Newell all turned in two-hit performances. Wheat has now hit safely and scored at least one run in each of his last six games, while Hill reached four times and extended his on base streak to eight games. Newell reached four times as well, and has reached safely in six straight games.

The Crushers will begin a three-game series on the road against the Schaumburg Boomers on Friday night. Right-hander Lefty Nick Deeg (2-0, 0.47) will get the start for the Crushers and the Boomers will counter with righty Kit Fowler (0-3, 5.68). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, and 2011 Frontier League Organization of the year, play ball at Sprenger Health Care Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, Ohio. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 12 teams operating throughout the Midwest. 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 31, 2018


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