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FL Lake Erie Crushers

Slammers Sweep Crushers

May 31, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio - The Joliet Slammers erased a 3-0 deficit at All Pro Freight Stadium on Thursday night, as they completed a three game sweep of the Lake Erie Crushers with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings.

The Crushers (4-8) threw out the Slammers twice at home plate, and did all of their scoring in the seventh inning, while the Slammers (7-6) have now won six out of their last seven contests.

For the second night in a row, the contest was dominated by a pair of great pitching performances. Joliet starting pitcher Jeremy Tietze allowed a pair of runs on three hits over six and a third, while Sam Strickland tossed seven scoreless innings for the Crushers.

The Crushers plated all three of their runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jason Taylor began the inning with a walk, and Rogelio Noris moved him to second on a base hit. Gered Mochizuki's bunt allowed them to advance, before Kellen Kulbacki and Brian Erie stroked back-to-back RBI singles. Adrian Ortiz knocked in the final run on a sacrifice fly.

Joliet answered with three runs in the eighth inning to tie the contest. The Slammers had the bases loaded with one out, when Jonathan Kountis walked Kyle Maunus to plate the first run. Zach Mandleblatt drove in the next run on a sacrifice fly, and David Fox tied the game with an RBI single.

The Crushers prevented the Slammers from taking the lead in the top of the ninth. After Kountis retired the first two batters of the inning, he allowed three consecutive singles to Brad Netzel, Hector Pellot, and Abel Nieves. Netzel tried to score on Nieves's single, but Robby Kuzdale threw him out at the plate.

Mandleblatt belted a one out single in the top of the tenth inning, and made his way to third on a double from Fox. Sean Estand drove him home moments later on a sacrifice fly.

Ortiz started the bottom of the tenth with a base hit, and was bunted over to second by Brandon Decker. Amalio Diaz (3) then retired Andrew Davis, before intentionally walking Russ Moldenhauer, but got Taylor to fly out to center to end the game.

Taylor's walk in the seventh inning extended his on base streak to eight games. Erie was the only Crusher to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a pair of base hits.

Brian Smith (1-0) scored the victory after tossing a pair of scoreless innings of relief, while Diaz worked a scoreless tenth inning to get his third save of the series. Kelyn Schellenberg (0-1) allowed a run on a pair of hits in the tenth and suffered the loss.

The Crushers will begin a three game series with the Windy City Thunderbolts, at All Pro Freight Stadium on Friday night. Right hander Trevor Longfellow (1-0, 4.82) will start for the Crushers and the Thunderbolts will counter with right hander Blayne Weller (0-0, 0.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 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 12 teams operating throughout the Midwest. Season tickets for the 2011 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 31, 2012


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