Big Early Inning for Windy City Sinks Lake Erie Again in 7-3 Defeat

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Big Early Inning for Windy City Sinks Lake Erie Again in 7-3 Defeat

Crestwood, IL - June 14, 2026 - The Lake Erie Crushers (14-19) came up empty on their trip to Crestwood. They fell 7-3 in the series finale against the Windy City ThunderBolts (15-16) and were swept for the first time in the 2026 season.

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For the second game in a row, the Crushers got into an early five-run hole. Two leadoff singles set up an RBI fielder’s choice for CF Liam McArthur. Then a walk, hit-by-pitch, and two RBI singles from LF Michael Sandle and RF Carlos Pena soared the Bolts to a 5-0 lead after two frames.

RHP Fraynel Nova settled down after that, tossing up zeroes in the 3rd and 4th to set up a big Lake Erie threat in the 5th. After a walk and a hit batter, RHP Blake Nettleton began to unravel. He surrendered his first hit of the game on a flair by SS Jarrod Watkins to load the bases. Then LF Sebastian Alexander was plunked with a curveball to bring in a run. 2B Pavin Parks then drew a bases loaded walk to put the second run home for Lake Erie.

With the score 5-2 and the bases loaded with two outs, Windy City manager Tom Carcione went to RHP Carsen Plumadore to try and escape the impending doom with Nettleton losing all of his control in the frame. Plumadore delivered three straight balls to C Alfredo Gonzalez, who then took a green light swing on the 3-0 pitch and grounded into the inning-ending fielder’s choice. It let the Bolts off the hook, and they escaped the inning with their 5-2 lead still intact.

Windy City responded with a two-out double from 1B Daryl Ruiz in the bottom of the inning to get one of the runs back. They led 6-2.

The Crushers got a two-out RBI double of their own from Pavin Parks in the top of the 7th to get within three, but 3B Jared Beebe continued his tear against Lake Erie in 2026, popping a solo homer out of Ozinga Field to re-extend the Bolts’ lead, 7-3.

For Lake Erie, the back end of the Bolts’ bullpen shut them down in the later innings, and the 7-3 victory was secured as Windy City emerged with the sweep at home. Both RHP Christian Scafidi and LHP Kenny Pierson recorded two strikeouts in their relief innings.

Carsen Plumadore (1-0) got the win as the most effective reliever. Crushers’ Fraynel Nova (1-4) was administered the loss due to his five-run 2nd inning.

The Crushers return home on Tuesday, June 16th to begin a six-game homestand at ForeFront Field highlighted by Military Appreciation Night on Friday, June 19th at 7pm with a special military jersey auction and postgame fireworks display. Tickets are available at LECrushers.com. 

For information on season ticket memberships visit lecrushers.com or call (440) 934-3636, and be sure to follow our socials @LECrushers on Instagram/Facebook/X.

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About the Lake Erie Crushers

The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team based in Avon, Ohio, just 18 miles west of Cleveland at ForeFront Field. They compete in the Frontier League, a proud MLB Partner League, and have brought a family-friendly, fan-oriented baseball experience to Northeast Ohio since 2009. As Lorain County’s only professional sports franchise, the Lake Erie Crushers are the largest economic driver in Lorain County, hosting more than 200 events per year that include over 50 baseball games, concerts, charity functions, and other events that bring the community of Avon together. Len Komoroski is the Crushers Chairman and Managing Partner, and the team is led by President Vic Gregovits. Jared Lemieux, a Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is in his fourth season as field manager.