wcthunderbolts.com

BOX SCORE

CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts came back from a 2-0 deficit with two outs in the ninth inning and defeated the Lake Erie Crushers in sudden death Thursday night in the final game this season at Ozinga Field.

The ThunderBolts (41-51) were unable to generate any offense early on as the Crushers (36-58) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Sean Cheely singled and later came home on a Jack Harris single to start the scoring.

Lake Erie added another run the next inningon a Cheely sacrifice fly.

Those two runs accounted for all the Crushers could generate off of Javier Reynoso. The Windy City starter went nine innings, throwing 138 pitches and sgriking out a career-high ten as he kept the Bolts in the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, the ThunderBolts loaded the bases on a single and two walks. Then, with two outs and two strikes, Micah Yonamine looped a single into right field that scored two runs, tying the game.

Lake Erie scored two in the top of the tenth to reclaim the lead but the Bolts played comeback again. Junior Martina’s two-run homer in the bottom of the frame sent the game to sudden death.

The ThunderBolts elected to pitch in the sudden death inning and, after the leadoff batter was retired, Tyler LaPorte got Josh Rego to line into a double play to end the ballgame with the score knotted at four. By sudden death rules, the ThunderBolts were decalred winners for keeping Lake Erie off the board.

LaPorte (1-0) pitch the scoreless inning to earn his first Windy City win.

The ThunderBolts finish the season with three games in Washington against the Wild Things. Game one of the series will be played at Wild Things Park Friday night with a 6:05 scheduled first pitch. The broadcast can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.