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AVON, OH – Clay Chapman’s complete game and career-high nine strikeouts were not enough for the ThunderBolts as they fell to Steve Hagen and the Lake Erie Crushers 2-0 on Monday afternoon at Sprenger Stadium.

The ThunderBolts (10-6) had their best scoring chances in the early innings as they put two men on base but didn’t score in the first. They put men on first and second with only one out in the third, but Hagen picked Keenyn Walker off at second base and pitched out of the jam.

Chapman struck out six and did not allow anyone past first base in the first three innings. He gave up his first run, though, in the fourth as Connor Oliver singled and, with two outs, stole second base. Josh McAdams followed with an RBI base hit to give the Crushers (7-9) a 1-0 lead.

Tanner Lubach added to the lead for the home team as he hit a solo home run in the fifth.

Hagen got better as the game progressed, allowing only one hit between the fourth and eighth innings. The Bolts put some pressure on him once again in the ninth. Blair Beck and Larry Balkwill each singled to put men at first and second base with two outs. On his 116th pitch of the game, Hagen got Ransom LaLonde to ground out to short to wrap up the win for Lake Erie.

Hagen (2-0) struck out a career-high 12 in the win for Lake Erie. He allowed only one walk and five hits. Chapman (0-2) was a tough-luck loser for the second time this year. He allowed seven hits and one walk to go along with his nine strikeouts.

The ThunderBolts and Crushers continue their series on Tuesday night with Zac Westcott (2-0, 1.80) getting the game two start against Lake Erie’s Jordan Kurokawa (1-0, 1.69). First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 and the game broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

Box Score