Sunday, September 02, 2012 Moldenhauer Blasts Crushers to Victory

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Marion, IL—Russ Moldenhauer’s (1-4, HR (9), 3 RBI) three run bomb to right in the top of the third inning helped the Lake Erie Crushers (53-41) stay alive in the Frontier League playoff race and Trevor Longfellow’s four inning relief appearance ensured they would live to fight for one more game as they beat the Southern Illinois Miners (54-38) 6-2.

The seven-inning game, which was a resumed game from last night where both teams scored a run before a tornado warning sent both teams home for the night, was the second of four do-or-die games for the Crushers and the second straight win for the ballclub.

When play resumed earlier today (of course, not until another rain delay) Trevor Longfellow (11-2, W) took the mound in relief of Pat Arnold (ND) and retired the Miners in order in the bottom of the second inning.

After sitting for so many hours, the Crushers could not wait to swing the sticks and wasted little time putting more runs on the scoreboard.  Jason Taylor (3-4, 2B, 2 R) led-off the top of the third with a single to left before Daniel Bowman (1-3, RBI, 3B) grounded out and Andrew Davis (0-1, 3 BB) worked the second of his three walks on the night to put runners on first and second.

That brought up the winner of the Frontier League Home Run Derby Russ Moldenhauer. “Moldy” took a 2-2 fastball from Cody Hall (who even though he had thrown 40 pitches the previous night was brought back out to pitch again tonight) and hit a moon shot to right and when it finally came back into orbit some 430 from home plate gave the Crushers a 4-1 lead.

Longfellow allowed the only run of his outing in the bottom of the third inning when he allowed back to back singles to Cannon Lester (2-2, 2B) and Sean Coughlin (2-2) and then threw a wild pitch with two outs and Lester on third to force home the run.

The Crushers got the run back however when Robby Kuzdale (1-3, HR (6), BB), who is battling a lower back issue, hit a home run off of Brian Fowler to give the Crushers a 5-2 lead.

The bats were not done though as the Crushers produced some two out lightning in the top of the sixth when Jason Taylor hit a double down the left line to put a runner on second with two outs.  Bowman then came up, and the rookie who has shown a flair for the dramatic and an ability to come through with a clutch hit, took the first pitch he saw from Fowler and smoked a triple into the right center field gap to cap the scoring.

Trevor Longfellow picked up his team leading eleventh win of the season while going four innings only allowing one run on four hits and striking out five without walking a single batter.

Cody Hall (L, 9-1) picked up his first loss of the season and it is the first time this season the Miners have lost a game in which Hall has appeared.  Adding to some of the more unusual statistics was Pat Arnold as he has now started ten games for the Crushers and has picked up a No Decision in every single one of the starts.

The Crushers will play the second game of the double header starting at 7:05 Central (8:05 Eastern).  The probable starters for the game are Eric Gonzalez-Diaz (7-9, 4.46) for the Crushers and Shawn Gilblair (10-5, 3.88) for the Miners.  You can tune into the game on www.lakeeriecrushers.com for all the action.

by Jake Donnelly