Ladwig Shines in Win Over RubberDucks

The SeaWolves notched back-to-back wins thanks to three home runs against the Akron RubberDucks on Thursday night. After taking a 6-0 lead early in the game, Erie was just able to hold off an Akron rally and seal the 6-4 win.

Tanner Tully got the start for Akron, but struggled against the strong Erie offense. The SeaWolves scored in the first inning on a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly from Drew Ward. Tully (1-1) escaped a pair of baserunners in the second inning, but gave up a pair of home runs in the third.

Ward collected his second homer of the season, a two-run shot, and Kerry Carpenter followed with a solo round-tripper. In the fourth, John Valente finished the scoring with his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field.

Erie had chances to score later in the night, but the Akron bullpen kept Erie from increasing their lead.

A.J. Ladwig continued the stretch of dominant pitching for Erie in his start, striking out eight batters. Ladwig (1-1) worked five scoreless innings with only two hits allowed. Combined with the shutout on Wednesday and the end of the game on Tuesday, the Erie pitching staff had hurled 20 consecutive scoreless innings.

The Akron offense pounced on Max Green in the sixth inning. Each of the first five batters in the frame reached safely, while Alex Call drove in a run with a double and Trenton Brooks lofted a three-run home run to right field.

Ethan DeCaster was able to keep the lead for Erie by closing the sixth inning and pitching a scoreless seventh. Gerson Moreno earned the save for the SeaWolves with two innings of scoreless work.

Erie will try to win their third straight game on Friday, as UPMC Park will hold a COVID-19 vaccine clinic during the game, hosted by the SeaWolves and UPMC Hamot. Ticket holders (ages 12 & older) can receive a Pfizer vaccine between 4:30-6:30 PM in the new Celebration Cove picnic area, located inside the main gate entry plaza of UPMC Park. No appointment is necessary.