Despite Strong Pitching, ThunderBolts Fall to Crushers
May 21, 2025 - Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release
CRESTWOOD, IL - ThunderBolt pitchers finished with 18 strikeouts, but they weren't enough to hold back the Lake Erie Crushers, who took the opener of a three-game series, 3-2 at Ozinga Field Tuesday night.
After an hour-long rain delay, Lake Erie (7-2) struck quickly, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. The ThunderBolts (3-8) had a chance to get out of the inning on a double play, but an errant throw kept the frame alive and Seth Strong made them pay with a two-run double off the right field wall.
The Bolts responded straight away with a score in the bottom of the first. Michael Sandle singled, moved to second on an Oscar Serratos walk and came home on a David Maberry base hit that made the score 2-1.
The Crushers doubled their lead in the fourth when Strong struck again. A solo home run, his first of the year, doubled their lead.
The Windy City bats went quiet as they were unable to come up with a hit after the first inning until the sixth. Finally they found the scoreboard again in the eighth when Dakota Kotowski homered for the second straight game, making it a 3-2 score.
Ethan Smith (1-0) pitched five strong innings for the win. Greg Duncan (0-1) struck out a career-high 11 over six innings but took the tough-luck loss. Jacob Newman fanned another seven Crushers in his three innings of relief.
There's a quick turnaround before game two of the series on Wednesday morning. Aaron Evers (1-0, 3.27) starts for the Bolts against Lake Erie's Jack Eisenbarger (1-0, 2.25). First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 on the fourth School Day of the year at Ozinga Field presented by Dave & Buster's. Broadcast information can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.
Frontier League Stories from May 21, 2025
- Mud Monsters Sniffed out by Bird Dawg Pitching - Mississippi Mud Monsters
- Eisenberger Strikes out Ten, Lineup Strikes for Eleven against Bolts - Lake Erie Crushers
- Crushers Pull Away Late to Take Down Bolts - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Gray Shines, Bats Come Alive for Series Win - Ottawa Titans
- Bird Dawgs Blank Mississippi En Route to First Home Win - Down East Bird Dawgs
- Miners' Fill It up Regulars Campaign Launches this Friday, Supporting Two Local Children Battling Serious Illness - Sussex County Miners
- 'Cats Rally Falls Short in the Ninth - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Certified Strongman Seth Strong Powers Lake Erie to Win over Bolts - Lake Erie Crushers
- Wild Things Drop Opener on Walk-Off Double in Joliet - Washington Wild Things
- Otters Win Homestand Opener with Taylor's Walk-Off Home Run - Evansville Otters
- Despite Strong Pitching, ThunderBolts Fall to Crushers - Windy City ThunderBolts
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
