Eastlake, OH - Doug Nikhazy (0-0, 4.35 ERA) took the mound for the start of the Lake County Captains latter half of Saturdays double header. After winning the first game the Captains where looking to take three straight victories from the Lansing Lugnuts.
Opposite of Nikhazy, Jeff Criswell (0-1, 6.08 ERA) took the mound for Lansing looking for his first win of the year.
After a solid first two innings from Nikhazy, the Lansing offense came alive in the top of the 3rd inning. 2B Sahid Valenzuela started it off with a single, followed two more singles from RF Austin Beck and 3B Brett Harris. Lugnuts SS Jack Winkler,who is batting .320 on the season, drove in 2 runs on a single to left center that was cutoff from being extra bases by Captains CF Petey Halpin. Next up was 1B Lawrence Butler who rocketed a double over the head of LF Johnathon Rodriguez scoring another 2 runs and giving Lansing a 4-0 lead.
Matt Turner (0-0, 0.93 ERA) relieved Doug Nikhazy in the top of the 5th inning. Nikhazy ended his day with 4 innings pitched, 7 hits, 4 earned, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Turner gave up a RBI single to C Jared McDonald after giving up two prior singles extending the Lugnuts lead to 5-0 going into the bottom of the inning.
LF Brayan Buelvas started off the top the the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field pushing the lead further to 6-0. After giving up two straight walks, Coach Greg DiCenzo pulled Turner and called in P Alaska Abney (0-0, 5.68 ERA) to take over with 2 on and 1 out still in the top of the sixth. Abney was able to get out of the inning with just one pitch as 3B Brett Harris hit into a double play.
Going into the bottom of the sixth inning Lugnuts pitcher Jeff Criswell had a no hitter going. Criswell went one, two, three with three straight ground outs against Captain hitters, C Mike Amditis, RF Connor Kokx, and 1B Joe Naranjo.
Lansing SS Jack Winkler started off the top of 7th with a deep double. Winkler was sensational today going 3-4 with 2 RBI's and a run scored. 1B Butler then singled, then another single by C Jared McDonald drove in a run. LF Buelvas drove in another run on a fielders choice and the Lugnuts led the Captains 8-0 going into the bottom of the 7th.
Jeff Criswell looking for his no hitter started off the inning walking Captains SS Christian Cairo, then Petey Halpin punched a single through the right side of the field breaking up Criswell's no hit bid. A quick double play and groundout ended the game. A one hit, 7 inning shutout for Criswell and the Lugnuts take the win 8-0 and split the double header.
The Captains finish up their series with Lansing on Sunday May 1st with a 1:00 PM start time.