Lugnuts win 5th straight, sweep Snappers

BELOIT, Wisc. - Following a 45-minute rain delay, the Eastern Division-leading Lansing Lugnuts (23-13) sent Beloit strikeout machine Wyatt Marks to an early exit and held off the Snappers (13-17), 8-6, on Saturday afternoon at Pohlman Field.

The victory concluded a three-game sweep of the Snappers. The Nuts went 5-1 on their six-game road trip to Wisconsin, winning the final five games.

First pitch was moved forward two hours due to rain in the forecast, but it didn't stop the rain from interfering, delaying the game following the first inning.

When play resumed, the Lugnuts' offense rose up against Marks (Loss, 3-2). Chavez Young 's RBI single put the Lugs up 1-0, a wild pitch brought in Matt Morgan for a 2-0 lead, a second wild pitch plated Young to make it 3-0, and Kevin Smith crushed an RBI double to left for a 4-0 edge, ending Marks's day. Beloit brought in reliever Ty Damron, and Christian Williams welcomed him with an RBI single to cap a five-run rally.

The Nuts added two more runs in the third inning on a third run-scoring wild pitch and a Young RBI double, grabbing a 7-0 lead.

Brock Lundquist homered in the sixth inning, his seventh home run of the year, to add insurance - and the Lugnuts looked like they would need it.

Lansing starter Zach Logue departed after 4 1/3 innings due to elevated pitch count, allowing two fifth-inning runs, one earned, with five strikeouts.

Matt Shannon (Win, 1-0) followed Logue with two innings, allowing three runs in the seventh to trim the Lugnuts' lead to 8-5.

Brody Rodning (Save, 2) relieved Shannon and stranded runners at second and third, escaping further trouble. Rodning set down seven consecutive Snappers, including the first two batters in the ninth inning - but the string was broken by three consecutive base hits in the ninth, pulling the Snappers within 8-6. With the tying runs on base, Rodning jammed Trace Loehr, producing a foul pop behind home plate. Catcher Matt Morgan made a running catch into the backstop, locking up the victory.

Lansing shortstop Kevin Smith went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Smith has reached base in 32 of 33 games and hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games. He leads baseball, Minor League and Major League, with 19 doubles.

The Nuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on Monday, May 14th, opening a seven-game homestand on a Dog Days of Summer. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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