
ThunderBolts Handle Joliet in Series Opener
September 10, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release
CRESTWOOD, IL - The ThunderBolts rallies from an early deficit to put away the Joliet Slammers 7-5 in the penultimate game at Ozinga Field Friday night.
The Slammers (38-56) took advantage of two ThunderBolt errors and picked up three hits in the first inning to put two runs on the board.
The Bolts (43-52) got one back in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back doubles from Payton Robertson and Brynn Martinez.
Joliet extended their lead with a Scott Holzwasser RBI double in the second but the ThunderBolts bounced right back again. Nikola Vasic and Rob Weissheier picked up RBI singles to tie the score and Jace Mercer's two-run homer in the third put the Bolts in the lead for good.
In the fifth inning, Martinez walked and stole two bases before scoring on an error. Then, the Bolts got their last run in the sixth when Zac Taylor tripled and came home on a Jack Strunc single.
Carson Maxwell hit a seventh-inning home run for Joliet but they could not muster any more offense over the final two innings as Ryan Hare got the final six outs for his third save.
Kenny Mathews (8-9) picked up the win, his fifth in his last six decisions. He lasted five innings and allowed four runs (two earned) with six strikeouts. Brett Smith (5-3) took the loss after allowing four runs out of the bullpen.
The 2021 season wraps up on Saturday night with game two between the ThunderBolts and Slammers. Logan Wiley (6-3, 3.15) gets the start for Windy City against Joliet's Logan Lyle (0-4, 5.26). The game will be followed by the first of two Super Mega Firework Spectaculars this weekend, presented by Lumina Pyrotechnics. Tickets as well as links to the audio and video broadcasts can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.
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Frontier League Stories from September 10, 2021
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- Otters seize lead and win from Crushers; All runs marked as unearned - Lake Erie Crushers
- Westcott Makes Miners History in Win over Gateway - Southern Illinois Miners
- ThunderBolts Handle Joliet in Series Opener - Windy City ThunderBolts
- 'Cats Fall in Final Series Opener of the Season - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Grizzlies Shut Down After Big First Inning - Gateway Grizzlies
- Mills' Strong Start, Error Lead to Wild Things' Victory in Opener - Washington Wild Things
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- Boomers Drop Opener at Florence - Schaumburg Boomers
- All-Stars Blast Y'alls to Victory over Boomers - Florence Y'alls
- Gateway Wins Series against Windy with Derby Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Otters Recognize Boots Day, Come up a Run Shy Thursday - Evansville Otters
- ThunderBolts Lose Home Run Tiebreaker - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Florence Takes First with Blowout Win, Evansville Loss on Thursday Night - Florence Y'alls
- Miners Shut out by Florence - Southern Illinois Miners
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