LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS News & Game Recaps

Avon, Ohio – Heartbreak and heartache.

The chance for the series sweep would come up short for the Lake Erie Crushers (11-7) on Thursday night, dropping the series finale 10-8 to the Florence Y’alls (6-10). The loss will move them back to 1.5 games back of Schaumburg in the Frontier League West.

After downing the Y’alls on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Crushers came out swinging early and often on Thursday, May 30.

In the first inning alone, the Crushers would bring six batters across the plate for a strong edge, doing the damage against Y’alls starter, Edgar Martinez. All six runs would come from a cumulation of three hits, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch.

The 6-0 lead would not be it for Lake Erie as the Crushers continued their tear in the bottom of the second.

1B Vincent Byrd Jr. knocked the opening hit of the inning, followed by a single into left field by RF Jack Harris. A wild pitch advanced both to second and third respectively, which allowed the Crushers to cash in two more runs on a SS Jarrod Watkins 2 RBI single – an 8-0 lead after two innings with all nine Crushers hitters batting twice.

Florence had every right to roll over and die, but they refused, notching their first run in the 3^rd, then grabbing two more in the 5^th when C Sergio Gutierrez destroyed a ball into deep right field for a two-run home run. His bomb would make the score 8-3, still favoring Lake Erie.

With a bit of life, the Y’alls lineup went to work in the 6^th against Crusher’s starter, RHP Matt Mulhearn.

Single, single, single, double was how the Y’alls started the 6^th, chasing Mulhearn from the game. RHP Brayden Bonner would come out of the bullpen for Lake Erie, but the line kept moving for the Y’alls. Sergio Gutierrez cashed in another single, and DH Craig Massey also lined an RBI single to put the finishing touches on a six-run inning. The Y’alls stormed all the way back in the 6^th to take a 9-8 lead.

Dejected, the Crushers lineup couldn’t get anything going after surrendering the lead. The 6^th and 8^th innings saw Lake Erie put two men on, but each time they failed to score.

In the eighth inning, a cushion would be established by the Y’alls from the bat of CF Ashton Creal, who singled into left field, sending home a run – the tenth unanswered run for Florence. The Y’alls would finish the job in the 9^th and put a cap on a historic comeback.

Y’alls RHP Ross Thompson came in with 2 outs in the first and ended up going 5.1 IP to give Florence a shot to come back. The Y’alls lineup did just that, and Lake Erie heads into the road trip on a major sour note.

The Crushers will ship off to Chicago to take on the Joliet Slammers on Friday, May 31. The first pitch set for 7:35 EST, and you can watch that game on FLOSports. The Crushers return home to Avon on June 7^th. It’s Star Wars Day! So make sure you come out in your Jedi (or Sith) robes, dust off the lightsabers, and enjoy a fun night at the ballpark!

Frontier League Standings: https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/overall-standings

You can watch the Lake Erie Crushers all season long at FloSports.tv.

Be sure to also follow the Crushers on Instagram/Facebook/X @LECrushers