Lake Erie Crushers News & Game Recaps

Pitching In

Crusher pitching dominates in 3-1 over Boomers

Box Link: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/boxscores/20230815_pmw2.xml

AVON, Ohio — The Lake Erie Crushers limited the Schaumburg Boomers to just a run on seven hits at Mercy Health Stadium on Tuesday night, as they came away with a series opening victory, defeating the Boomers 3-1.

The win marks a third straight series opening victory for Crushers (32-47) while the loss for the Boomers (45-33) brought a brief three game winning streak to a close.

Matt Mulhearn (5-5) turned in his finest start of the season, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowed just four hits while fanning six batters in a winning effort. Darien Ragins tossed a scoreless eighth inning to hold the lead while Sam Curtis (6) secured the save after allowing a run on two hits in the ninth.

Lake Erie fired the first shot, putting a two out rally together to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Jackson Hickert (5-4) retired the first two batters, he hit Scout Knotts with an 0-1 pitch before Josh Rego singled into left. Hector Roa followed with a two run double that bounced off the wall in right to plate both Knotts and Rego, giving the Crushers a 2-0 lead.

The Crushers plated one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Roa was once again at the center of the action, as he doubled to the gap in right center field and came around to score on Kenen Irizarry’s two out RBI single to center.

The Boomers scored their lone run in the top of the ninth. Gaige Howard blasted a solo homer to right, his fifth of the season.

Lake Erie had just a handful of hits, with two of those came from Roa, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Roa has now hit safely and driven in at least one run in each of his last four games. Zach Racusin went 1-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 12 games in the process.

The Crushers will continue their three game series with the Boomers at Mercy Health Stadium on Wednesday night. Right-hander Yasel Santana (3-6, 4.71) will get the start for the Crushers and the Boomers will counter with right-hander Austin Gossmann. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.