After giving up eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Crushers responded with seven runs in the top of the ninth to beat host Mississippi, 13-10, in the finale of their six-game series June 28.
Lake Erie held a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. The Mud Monsters got to reliever Branden Noriega for four runs to tie the game, then they took the lead with a run off Dawson Hargrove. Neither recorded an out.
The Crushers summoned third baseman Pavin Parks to the mound, and he gave up three more runs before getting out of the inning.
Trailing, 10-6, the Crushers rallied with seven runs in the ninth. Garret Pike hit a two-run single, Sebastian Alexander drew a bases-loaded walk, Joe Redfield hit a sacrifice fly and Samuel Benjamin capped the rally with a three-run home run to retake the lead.
Edwin Sanchez (4-1), who started the June 24 game against Mississippi, came out of the bullpen to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth and secure the win.
Benjamin had four of Lake Erie’s 14 hits and drove in five runs, giving him 27 RBI for the season. Redfield and Pike each drove in two runs.
James Jett and Luis Acevedo each had two hits.
The Crushers drew nine walks as a team and scored double-digit runs three times in the six-game series.
Lake Erie (20-25) is off June 29. The Crushers begin a nine-game homestand June 30 when Joliet visits.