Game Recaps

Sauer, Aakhus lead Bolts to victory

AVON, OH – Stephen Sauer allowed just four hits in a complete game effort and Zach Aakhus had three hits and three RBI in an 8-1 ThunderBolts victory over the Lake Erie Crushers at All Pro Freight Stadium Saturday night.

The Bolts offense got on the board in the third inning, scoring four times on four hits. Brandon Pearl got the rally started with a single before Chris Wade was hit by a pitch. Mike Torres’ single scored Pearl and Chad Cregar’s single scored Wade. After Billy Nowlin was hit by a pitch, Aakhus drove in two runs on a double, making the score 4-0.

Meanwhile, Sauer was not allowing the Crushers offense anything. Through five innings, he had given up just one baserunner on a Jason Taylor double in the second. He retired 11 straight hitters between that double and Robby Kuzdale’s single to lead off the sixth. That single was followed by another nine straight set down.

The Bolts added to their lead in the seventh. Aakhus hit his first homer of the year to make it 5-0. Aakhus, celebrating his 28th birthday, went 3-4 with two doubles and a homer. After an error put Jareck West on base, Bryan Burke doubled him in to make it 6-0.

The final rally came in the top of the ninth. Consecutive walks to Aakhus, West and Burke loaded the bases for Travis Weaver, who singled home Aakhus. West scored on a Pearl sacrifice fly.

The Crushers got their only run in the ninth. Kyle Shaffer led off with a double but still stood at second with two outs when Andrew Davis grounded a ball to first. Two errors on the play allowed Shaffer to score to end Sauer’s shutout.

The Windy City hurler did finish the game, though, for the first complete game for the team this season. He improved to 1-0 with the win. Lake Erie starter Mickey Jannis(0-2) took the loss.

The series concludes Sunday evening with a 4:05 CDT start time at All Pro Freight Stadium. The ThunderBolts will send Dustin Williams (1-1) to the mound against Lake Erie’s Paul Fagan (0-1). The game’s radio broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and WXAV.com.

Box Score




Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008