FL Lake Erie Crushers

Lake Erie takes rubber match with ninth inning rally

Published on July 26, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


NORMAL, Ill. -- The Lake Erie Crushers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning of Saturday night's contest at the Corn Crib, as they took the finale in come from behind fashion, defeating the Normal Cornbelters, 8-6.

The victory for the Crushers (33-27) marked their second series victory in their five-year history at the Corn Crib, while the loss for the Cornbelters (28-30) was their seventh in their last nine games since the All Star break. The win for the Crushers also marked the second time this season that they won despite trailing after eight innings.

Like the previous two nights, Saturday's contest was a back-and-forth battle with the lead changing hands multiple times, especially over the final three innings.

It didn't take long for the Cornbelters to strike, as they took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Joimar Veras's solo homerun. Lake Erie came right back in the top of the second. Using a National League lineup, pitcher Todd Kibby helped his own cause, going the opposite direction with a two-out double down the line in left to score Ryan Hutchison.

Normal regained the lead rather quickly, as Tyler Shover belted a two-run single with two outs to give the Cornbelters a 3-1 advantage.

The Crushers would get one of those runs back in the top of the third. Trevor Stevens started the inning with a walk, and made his way to third on Andrew Davis's double. Anderson Hidalgo's groundout plated Stevens to bring the Crushers within a run (3-2).

The Cornbelters used the long ball to plate their final three runs of the game. They took a 4-2 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning on Aaron Dudley's solo homerun. Lake Erie again was able to draw within a run in the top of the seventh inning on Davis's run scoring groundout.

Momentum shifted quickly on both sides over the final two innings of the game. The Crushers used a pair of two-out hits to take their first lead of contest. Craig Hertler delivered the first, on a pinch hit RBI single to score Hutchison, and one pitch later, Juan Sanchez smashed a RBI double to right center to give Lake Erie the lead.

The lead did not hold, as Normal used another homerun to regain the lead. With two outs in the home half of the eighth inning, Richard Lucas hit a two-run bomb over the wall in right center to give the Cornbelters a 6-5 lead.

Lake Erie then rallied for three in the top of the ninth to take the lead for good. Walks were issued to both Davis and Hidalgo to start the inning, and on a 3-2 pitch, Vince Mejia delivered the biggest hit of the contest, with a two-run triple to the gap in left center. Mejia scored later in the inning on Hutchison's sacrifice fly.

Brandon Smith (1-0) came away with the victory while Trevor Longfellow (3) scored his second save in as many nights. Alan Oaks (0-3) surrendered three runs on three hits over a third of an inning and took the loss.

Davis paced the Crushers with a 3-for-4 performance on the night and reached four times, while Juan Sanchez extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-5 performance. Sanchez went 8-for-16 (.500) in the series with four runs and four RBIs. Hutchison went 2-for-4 as well with a pair of runs and a RBI.

The Crushers will begin a three-game series against the Schaumburg Boomers on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Zac Treece (3-2, 2.15) will throw for the Crushers, and the Boomers will counter with left-hander Hunter Ackerman (2-1, 4.11). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.

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Frontier League Stories from July 26, 2014


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