Lugnuts Lash South Bend Behind 16 Hits

LANSING, Mich. - Lansing struck early and often against South Bend and nabbed the series opener, 7-5, despite a late rally by the Cubs on Monday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

The Lugnuts (21-17) scored two runs in the first and collected 16 hits in total. After sinking into a four-run hole heading to the eighth, the Cubs (18-20) cut the deficit to two and loaded the bases. But Lansing slammed the door shut to earn its third consecutive victory over the Cubs. South Bend has dropped three of its first four games during the seven-game road trip.

South Bend starting pitcher Jeremy Null allowed five runs (all earned) on 12 hits in five innings. Through his first six starts (36.2 innings), the 6-foot-8 righty allowed just three earned runs. Null also walked just his second batter of the season and heaved two wild pitches.

After scoring at least one first-inning run in all four matchups between the Cubs and the Lugnuts last week, Lansing stuck to the same script. Center fielder Anthony Alford cracked a double to center field to begin the bottom of the first, and shortstop Richard Urena followed with an RBI single to right field, lifting the Lugnuts to an early 1-0 advantage. Then with one out, designated hitter Ryan McBroom rolled an RBI single up the middle to score Urena.

South Bend tied the game at two in the top of the third on a two-run single to right field by first baseman Gioskar Amaya, who drove in center fielder Jeffrey Baez and left fielder Charcer Burks.

The Lugnuts pushed back in front, 3-2, in the fourth inning when third baseman Gunnar Heidt clanged an RBI double off the wall in right-center field, scoring second baseman Justin Atkinson, who began the frame with a single. Alford followed with a bloop RBI base knock to extend the margin to 4-2.

Lansing right fielder Josh Almonte cracked an RBI single in the fifth to plate catcher Danny Jansen.

The Cubs trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning. After shortstop Gleyber Torres shot a single to center field, the Lugnuts pulled starter Shane Dawson. Right fielder Yasiel Balaguert singled off reliever Mark Biggs, and catcher Cael Brockmeyer did the same to reel in Torres.

The Lugnuts surged back and tacked on a pair in the seventh, thanks to a two-run single by Jansen against Cubs reliever Tommy Thorpe.

In the top of the eighth, Burks led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Amaya drove in his third run of the game with an RBI single that pulled the Cubs within three, 7-4. Balaguert singled, and Brockmeyer did the same to score Amaya and tighten the gap to 7-5. The Cubs loaded the bases with one out, but Lugnuts reliever Colton Turner escaped the trouble without any further damage.

South Bend and Lansing return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Tuesday at 10:35 a.m. ET in game two of the four-game set. Cubs right-hander Erick Leal (3-1, 3.23 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Lugnuts righty Conner Greene (2-2, 5.70 ERA).