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WASHINGTON, PA – The ThunderBolts scored a run in the ninth inning and one in the tenth to overcome a late deficit and beat the Washington Wild Things 5-4 in an extra-inning contest at Wild Things Park Saturday night.

The ThunderBolts (30-22) wasted no time in jumping on the board as Coco Johnson led off with a triple and Keenyn Walker knocked him in with a single.

The 1-0 lead held into the fifth as Clay Chapman got off to a strong start for the Bolts. The Wild Things (28-24), though, loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth and broke through for the first time. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt from catcher Corey Bass brought home the first run and Bralin Jackson singled home another with a third coming in on a wild throw from right field. Mike Hill’s RBI double made it 4-1.

The ThunderBolts chipped away with two runs in the seventh. Tim Zier singled and Ransom LaLonde waked and Zier scored on a Blair Beck base hit. Johnson walked to load the bases and Walker walked to score LaLonde.

It remained 4-3 into the ninth, when Beck singled and Johnson doubled him home to tie it at four and send the game into extra innings.

In the tenth, the Bolts loaded the bases with three singles and, with two outs, LaLonde came up with a fourth, scoring pinch runner Andrew Dundon to make the score 5-4.

Brian Loconsole wrapped it up with a scoreless tenth for his league-leading 19th save, capping a strong performance from the ThunderBolts bullpen. Five pitchers combined for 5.1 scoreless innings.

Scott Kuzminsky (3-1) pitched the ninth for the win and Zach Strecker allowed two runs in three innings and took the loss.

The ThunderBolts and Wild Things conclude their series with game three on Sunday evening. Zac Westcott (5-3, 6.10) gets the start for the Bolts against Washington’s Chase Cunningham (6-1, 2.65). First pitch from Wild Things Park is scheduled for 4:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

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