[Empty Body]
The SeaWolves won their third straight game in comeback fashion, taking down the Akron RubberDucks 5-3 on Friday night at UPMC Park on Alternative Facts Night.
Erie starter A.J. Ladwig started his outing retiring the first 10 batters he faced before giving up a one-out single to Joe Sever in the fourth. Francisco Mejía followed with a base hit moving Sever into scoring position for Bobby Bradley. Bradley singled home Sever for a 1-0 lead. Yu Chang then walked to load the bases ahead of Eric Haase. Ladwig struck out Haase for the second out, but Taylor Murphy singled home a pair, giving the Ducks a 3-0 lead.
Ladwig went on to retire the final seven batters he faced, going six solid innings, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts in a no-decision.
Erie got on the board against Akron starter Shane Bieber in the fifth when Christin Stewart led off with a solo home run to right, cutting the lead down to a pair of runs at 3-1. The home run was Stewart's league-leading 28th.
The SeaWolves continued to close the gap in the seventh. With two outs, Steven Moya doubled to keep the inning alive for Kody Eaves. Eaves singled home Moya to make it a 3-2 game. Logan Watkins followed with a walk and Bieber's day was done. David Speer came in and struck out pinch-hitter Grayson Greiner to end the Erie threat.
Erie would then take the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Harold Castro singled to left with one out for his second hit of the game. Mike Gerber tripled off the wall in left-center, scoring Castro from first, tying the game 3-3. Stewart then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, bringing home Gerber, giving the SeaWolves their first lead of the night at 4-3. Dawel Lugo would draw a two-out walk and Moya reached on a strikeout and wild pitch. Eaves singled home Lugo, giving Erie a 5-3 lead.
Mark Ecker worked a scoreless ninth with a walk and two strikeouts, earning his first save.
Matt Crouse (7-6) earned his first win in relief tossing a scoreless eighth. The Erie bullpen has combined to not allow a run over the first two games of the series, tossing 5.1 innings.
The SeaWolves and Ducks meet on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in the final night game of the season at UPMC Park. RHP Spencer Turnbull (0-2, 7.20 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against RHP Matt Esparza (5-5, 5.33 ERA).
Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night featuring postgame fireworks thanks to Rebich Investments.
