Lake Erie defeats Rockford 4-2 in six inning contest

Rockford, Ill. -- The Lake Erie Crushers won their second game in a row on Tuesday night in a rain shortened contest, defeating the Rockford RiverHawks, 4-2 in six innings. 

Lake Erie (2-2) snapped a 2-2 tie by scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning, while Rockford (2-2) went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, before the game was originally delayed because of lightning.  The rain came shortly thereafter, with two outs in the top of the seventh inning and never stopped, giving the Crushers a 4-2 victory. 

The Crushers wasted no time getting started, scoring twice in the first inning, as they did in their last victory on Saturday night.  The bases were loaded for Lake Erie with one down, when Nick Mahin hit a ground ball to Rockford shortstop Jake Eigsti, which Eigisti booted, allowing Chase Fontaine to score.  The next batter, Joel Collins reached on a fielder's choice which brought Andrew Davis home. 

Josh Roberts (1-1) fanned the first two batters he faced and worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning, before allowing a pair of runs in the second.  Jeremy Hamilton began the frame with a double, and scored on Cameron Satterwhite's base hit.  Carlos Dominguez brought in the game tying run two batters later on a groundout.  After allowing that run to score, Roberts went on to retire 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. 

The Crushers had several chances to score, leaving five runners stranded in scoring position from the second through the fifth inning, but cashed in by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth inning.  Robby Kuzdale began the inning with a base hit, and moved to third on Zac Messer's single.  With runners at the corners and one out, Patrick Norris laid a bunt down the first base line, which Hamilton couldn't handle, allowing Kuzdale to score.  Davis drove in the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. 
 

Roberts tossed all six innings for the Crushers, and allowed just the two runs on four hits, with four strikeouts to score his first victory of the season.  Rockford's Todd McGee (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering both runs in the sixth inning. 

The Crushers improved their all time record to 7-0 against the RiverHawks with the victory.  Kuzdale and Norris paced Lake Erie with two hits apiece.  Norris went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a walk and a sacrifice bunt, while Kuzdale went 2-for-3 with a double, a single and a free pass. 

The Crushers and RiverHawks will continue their series at Road Ranger Stadium on Wednesday night.  Right hander Travis Risser (0-1) will get the start for the Crushers, and the RiverHawks will counter with right hander Tony Marsala.The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM. 

by Andy Barch