Lugnuts Blast SilverHawks

LANSING - The Lugnuts' affinity for pounding out hits returned on Thursday night as Lansing defeated the South Bend SilverHawks 10-2 at Oldsmobile Park before 6,268. It is the third time in four games that the Lugnuts have scored ten runs and the sixth time this season that they have had at least 10 hits. Lansing had 12 knocks Thursday night.

After South Bend scored two in the second inning to take an early lead, Lansing answered back with a Brian Bormaster homer to left field to tie the game at 2-2. The hit was originally ruled a double before being changed to home run, which drew South Bend manager Mark Haley out of the dugout. He was eventually thrown out of the game for arguing the call. Bormaster finished the game 2-for-3 with 3 RBI's.

The Lugnuts led 5-2 in the sixth when Cory Patton ripped a bases loaded double down the right field line to plate runs and make the score 8-2.

Patton delivered again in the eighth inning when he blasted a two run home run to center field to push the lead to 10-2. It was the second homer of the season for Patton who finished 2-for-5 with 5 RBI's.

Russ Savickas (1-0) threw six innings for Lansing (6-2), giving up two runs, one of which was earned, on six hits while fanning four in the win.

Billy Carnline follwed suit with a three inning save by allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Ramon Sanchez (0-2) took the loss for South Bend (4-4) after surrendering eight hits and six runs in five innings of work.

The Lugnuts and SilverHawks will play the middle game of the series on Friday evening at Oldsmobile Park. Adrian Martin (1-0, 2.57 ERA) will take the hill for Lansing. South Bend will counter with righty Cody Evans (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.