Crushers Roll to 11-5 Win Over Mississippi Mud Monsters

The Lake Erie Crushers wasted no time Thursday night, scoring in each of the first three innings to hand the Mississippi Mud Monsters an 11-5 loss in game three of a six-game series in Pearl. The Crushers improved to 19-23 while Mississippi fell to 16-26. Early and Often Lake Erie struck before the Mud Monsters recorded a single out. Third baseman Pavin Parks sliced a two-RBI double into the left-center gap to put the Crushers up 2-0 in the first inning. Catcher Derek Vegas added a two-run homer over the left field wall in the second, his third of the season, making it 4-0. The Crushers then poured on five more runs in the third on an RBI walk by second baseman Luis Acevedo, a two-RBI single from shortstop Jarrod Watkins, and an RBI single by designated hitter Samuel Benjamin. Watkins added a solo shot down the right field line in the fifth for his fourth home run of the season, giving Lake Erie 10 runs for the second consecutive night in Mississippi. A Brief Scare Left-hander Brandon Scott was sharp through four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth, walking four batters. Mississippi center fielder Brayland Skinner and right fielder Kasten Furr each knocked RBI singles as the Mud Monsters scored four runs to make things interesting. Reliever Branden Noriega entered and struck out designated hitter Samil De La Rosa to end the threat. Noriega earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the season. Center fielder Joe Redfield added an RBI single in the seventh for Lake Erie. Mississippi scored once more on a wild pitch to set the final at 11-5. Right-hander Dawson Hargrove closed things out with two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth. Up Next The Crushers return to action Friday, June 26, for game four against the Mud Monsters at 7:30 p.m. ET. Lake Erie comes home Tuesday, June 30, to begin a nine-game homestand at ForeFront Field in Avon. First pitch against the Joliet Slammers is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at LECrushers.com .