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CRESTWOOD, IL – The Windy City ThunderBolts could not overcome two errors that resulted in three Rascal runs in the sixth inning, as River City took game one of a three game set at Standard Bank Stadium 10-4 Friday night.

The ThunderBolts (17-15) fell behind early to the Rascals (17-14) after Mike Jurgella ripped a three-run home run to put his team up 3-0 in the first inning. Jurgella struck again in the third with an RBI single that drove in Josh Silver to extend River City’s lead to 4-0.

The Bolts would not go down quietly, though, as Tim Zier got his team’s first hit off Rascal starter Hector Hernandez (3-3) in the fourth. Larry Balkwill followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Windy City came all the way back against Hernandez in the fifth. With two outs, Andrew Dundon reached base on an infield single. After a Keenyn Walker base hit, Coco Johnson laced a ground ball up the middle that drove in Dundon from second base.

The two-out rally continued in the form of Tim Zier, who hit an RBI single of his own to left field scoring Walker. Balkwill tied the game at four on a dribbler that deflected off the glove of the pitcher Hernandez, which scored Walker from third.

Bolts starter Zac Westcott (4-2) was sent out to start the sixth inning and allowed a leadoff double to Clint Freeman. Tyler Murphy was called upon after Morales was retired on a ground out to second base that advanced Freeman to third.

A Jason Merjano tapper was fielded by third baseman Andrew Dundon, who had a play at home plate, but could not get the ball out of his glove. The run scored and the batter Merjano reached first base.

A defensive blunder in shallow centerfield cost the Bolts a run, as a popup dropped in between three Windy City positon players to make it 6-4 Rascals. Josh Silver added a third run in the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Merjano notched another RBI in the eigth inning, while Braxton Martinez and Josh Ludy added an exclamation point to the win with solo home runs in the ninth inning.

The Bolts look to Brady Muller (4-1, 1.60) in game two against Rascal right-hander Tim Koons (2-2, 6.56). Saturday night at Standard Bank is Princess Night and will feature $1.50 domestic draft beer. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 P.M. and the broadcast can be heard through wcthunderbolts.com. 

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