May 20, 2018 2 min read

AVON, OHIO – Austin Crutcher and Mike Hill hit back-to-back home runs, three Washington pitchers combined on a six-hitter and the Wild Things defeated Lake Erie, 3-2, Sunday to earn a split of a Frontier League doubleheader.

Lake Erie scored two late runs to edge Washington 3-2 in the opening game.

The Wild Things avoided the series sweep by winning the nightcap as Frank Trimarco (2-0), making his first start of the season, combined with relievers Sam Mersing and Zach Strecker to hold Lake Erie to six singles. They did not issue a walk.

Solo homers by Crutcher and Hill gave Washington a 2-0 lead in the second inning and came off losing pitcher Sean Renzi, who struck out 12 in seven innings. Lake Erie scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second but Washington pushed its lead to 3-1 in the third when Brett Marr was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Roman Collins.

The Crushers added another unearned run in the fourth but were held scoreless the rest of the way. Strecker got the final three outs for his third save.

Washington had a 2-1 lead in the opener but Lake Erie tied it in the sixth when designated hitter Matthew Dacey homered off reliever Aaron Burns to tie the score. Lake Erie won it in the seventh when the Crushers loaded the bases with two outs against Davis Adkins (1-1) and Dane Hutcheon drew a walk to force home the game-winning run.

Washington is off until Wednesday when it plays another doubleheader, against the Southern Illinois Miners, at Wild Things Park.