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GAME RECAP

Wild Things shutout in final game against ThunderBolts
Third straight pitchers’ duel in series

Crestwood, IL – The Washington Wild Things (37-24), presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, fell to the Windy City ThunderBolts (44-18) by a score of 1-0 at Hawk Ford Field Sunday afternoon. All three games of the weekend series against Windy City were one-run affairs, as The ThunderBolts took the series 2-1 over the Wild Things.

Washington LHP Alan Stidfole (3-1) took the loss in the game despite a great outing, going seven strong innings while striking out six, walking one, and allowing only three hits. The Washington lineup was halted Sunday by Windy City ace Eric Fussell’s (7-1) complete-game, three-hit shutout.

The ThunderBolts got the first and lone run of Sunday’s game in the first inning. After getting the first two outs of the frame, Stidfole gave up a single to Wes Long. Phillip Hawke followed with a double to bring home Long all the way from first base for what would be the deciding run.

Windy City starter Eric Fussell was able to keep the Washington lineup off balance through the first six innings. Fussell held the Wild Things to two hits through six innings, with Rene Quintana picking up a hit in the first inning and Rob Vernon getting a single up the middle in the fifth.

Stidfole was ready to match Fussell, however, as he kept the ThunderBolts lineup in check as well. After giving up two hits and a run in the first inning, Stidfole kept Windy City off the base paths by not allowing a hit and dealing with just two base runners – one by a walk and one on an error – through the sixth inning.

Justin Mattison came in relief for Stidfole in the eighth inning and worked out of trouble. After allowing two straight singles with two outs in the book, Mattison was able to strikeout cleanup hitter Hawke to give Washington a chance in the top of the ninth.

In the ninth, Washington had the middle of its order up with Quintana, Nathan Messner, and Robbie Knapp attempting to at least tie the ballgame, but they could not produce as they fell in order to Fussell, giving him a complete-game, three-hit shutout.

Monday the Wild Things return home from a six-game road swing to CONSOL Energy Park to host the Rockford RiverHawks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Wild Things box office at 724-250-9555.

BOX SCORE

7/29/07
Washington 0, Windy City 1

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Washington	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
Windy City	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	5	1

Washington	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG
C. Sidick	CF	4	0	0	0	.249
R. Quintana	SS	4	0	1	0	.281
N. Messner	1B	4	0	0	0	.296
R. Knapp	DH	4	0	1	0	.286
M. Sutton	LF	3	0	0	0	.286
M. Garza	CAT	2	0	0	0	.197
J. Newman	2B	3	0	0	0	.195
R. Vernon	RF	3	0	1	0	.242
E. Earnhart	3B	3	0	0	0	.202
A. Stidfole	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
J. Mattison	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
TOTALS		30	0	3	0

Windy City	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG
G. Mejia	2B	4	0	0	0	.269
M. Coles	LF	4	0	1	0	.335
W. Long	SS	4	1	2	0	.319
M. Hawke	1B	4	0	1	1	.295
R. Marconi	CF	3	0	1	0	.284
J. Horn	3B	3	0	0	0	.304
S. Balster	DH	3	0	0	0	.294
S. Billak	RF	2	0	0	0	.258
J. McCarthy	RF	0	0	0	0	.218
J. Lowen	CAT	3	0	0	0	.249
E. Fussell	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
TOTALS		30	1	5	1

E--E.Earnhart, E.Fussell. DP--WASHINGTON 0, WINDY CITY 0. LOB-- WASHINGTON 4, WINDY CITY 6. 2B--M.Hawke (20). SB--R.Quintana (4), R.Vernon (9), R.Marconi (20). HBP--M.Garza.

Washington	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
A. Stidfole (L, 3-1)	7.0	3	1	1	1	6	0	2.57
J. Mattison	1.0	2	0	0	0	1	0	1.91

Windy City	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
E. Fussell (W,7-1)	9.0	3	0	0	0	7	0	3.20

HB--E.Fussell. SO--R.Quintana, N.Messner 3, J.Newman, R.Vernon, E.Earnhart, G.Mejia, M.Coles, M.Hawke 2, R.Marconi, J.Horn, S.Balster. BB--S.Billak.

Time: 2:09, Attendance: 1,632