Mattison Secures First Save in Erie's One-Run Win

The SeaWolves won a pitcher’s duel against Akron on Saturday, 2-1.

Lael Lockhart and Akron’s Will Dion traded zeros for the first four frames. Lockhart stranded runners in scoring position in the first three frames. Dion, despite allowing two singles, faced the minimum through his first five frames.

Akron struck first in the fifth inning. With Connor Kokx on first and one out, Jose Tena singled Kokx to third base. It was Tena’s third hit of the game. Angel Martinez then singled home Kokx.

The SeaWolves broke through against Dion in the sixth. Dillon Dingler swung at the first pitch of the inning and blasted a solo home run to tie the game. With two out in the frame and Julio Rodriguez on first base, Justice Bigbie banged a double off the right-field fence. Rodriguez was able to score before Bigbie was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple. It gave Erie a 2-1 lead.

RJ Petit and Tyler Mattison combined for 4.2 scoreless innings. Petit relieved Lockhart and stranded the bases loaded in the fifth. Petit (2-1) was the winning pitcher in relief. Dion (0-1) took the loss.

Mattison allowed just a walk in two hitless innings. In just his second Double-A outing he secured his first save. He struck out four batters, including the final two to strand the tying run at second.

Erie and Akron conclude their series on Monday at 6:05 p.m.