CornBelters complete sweep of Crushers

Posted on August 1, 2016
CornBelters fielders
(Photo courtesy Normal CornBelters)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters won their fourth straight game and completed a season series six-game sweep of the Lake Erie Crushers with a 3-1 victory on Sunday at the Corn Crib.

Pitchers ruled for the first five innings, but the Crushers’ Connor Oliver registered the first hit off Belters starter Horatio Acosta to lead off the sixth and scored on a flare to center by Jose Barraza.

Aaron Dudley answered for the CornBelters in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer just to the right of the corn in right center to take a 2-1 lead.

The Belters increased the advantage to 3-1 when Justin Fletcher led off with a single, was sacrificed to second, took third on a base hit and scored on an infield single by Santiago Chirino.

Acosta (6-2) earned the win with six and one-third innings of three-hit ball, giving up one earned run with one walk and three strikeouts. Connor Reed (2-1) took the loss, working six innings with two earned runs on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts. Brennan Smith pitched the ninth inning for his first save.

The CornBelters take Monday off before embarking on a nine-game road trip beginning on Tuesday evening at Joliet. The Belters visit Traverse City and Southern Illinois before returning home for a three-game series against River City beginning August 12.

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