Hard-Hit Balls, Soft Luck: Crushers Fall to Evansville 8-7 in Series Opener

The Lake Erie Crushers put together one of their better offensive nights of the season Tuesday, hitting the ball hard all over ForeFront Field. None of it mattered much in the end. The Evansville Otters (17-10) took the series opener 8-7 on June 9, handing the Crushers (13-15) a loss that was as much about placement as power. Early Runs, Early Deficit Both starters were sharp through the first two frames. Evansville broke through in the top of the third, stringing together three seeing-eye singles. The last of those was a two-run single by first baseman Dennis Pierce, putting the Otters ahead 2-0. Lake Erie answered quickly. Second baseman Luis Acevedo led off the bottom half with a double that rattled off the top of the fence and stayed in play. Left fielder Samuel Benjamin followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1. Evansville pushed the lead back to two in the top of the third when left fielder JJ Cruz added an RBI single of his own, making it 3-1. Nova Works, Luck Doesn’t Crushers starter Fraynel Nova was doing most things right. He was generating weak contact throughout the middle innings, but the Otters kept finding gaps anyway. Nova and the Crushers got within one run again in the sixth when first baseman Alfredo Gonzalez laced a two-out RBI double to make it 3-2. The seventh inning unraveled in a hurry. Nova surrendered a bunt single, then walked and hit a batter to load the bases with nobody out. He was lifted at that point, and reliever Pavin Parks inherited the mess. A soft line drive through the right side scored one run. A lofted sacrifice fly scored another. The one hard-hit ball of the inning, a line drive to center from designated hitter Mark Black, capped a four-run frame. Evansville led 7-2. Nova’s final line: 6-plus innings, nine hits, six earned runs, four walks and three strikeouts on 88 pitches. Crushers Fight Back Lake Erie made things interesting. Acevedo launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, his second of the season, and Gonzalez added an RBI double to pull the Crushers to within two at 7-5. Evansville answered again. A leadoff double from second baseman Amani Jones, an infield single, and a safety squeeze bunt by catcher Logan Brown extended the lead to 8-5. The One That Got Away The ninth inning gave Crushers fans one last moment of hope. Evansville closer Junior Cerda walked the first two batters, bringing the tying run to the plate. Third baseman Jacob Tobias drove in one on a groundout. Then Gonzalez sent a blast to center field measuring 407 feet on TrackMan. The center field wall at ForeFront Field is 400 feet. A wind gust knocked the ball down just enough, and Evansville center fielder Jon Ponder made a sprawling catch at the wall. The sacrifice fly made it 8-7, but the game was over. Ryan Wiltse earned the win to improve to 1-2. Nova dropped to 1-3 with the loss. Cerda recorded his fourth save of the season. Up Next The Crushers return to ForeFront Field on Wednesday, June 10 for a noon first pitch against the Otters. Thursday is Thirsty Thursday presented by Market Garden Brewery, featuring $2.50 select draft beers. Tickets are available at LECrushers.com.