South Bend, Ind. – The Lansing Lugnuts continued their dominance of the South Bend Silver Hawks this season by taking a 9-6 victory at Coveleski Stadium Tuesday night. Lansing is now 12-1 against South Bend this year.

The action started quickly for Lansing as Justin Jackson hit the first pitch of the game over the left-center field wall, making it 1-0. It was his fourth homer of the year.

Lansing opened up the lead in the first by loading the bases off of South Bend starter Cristian Beltre with one out. Kevin Ahrens then lifted a sacrifice fly and Moises Sierra later chipped in with an RBI single, giving the Lugnuts an early 3-0 lead.

The Lugnuts added another in the second when John Tolisano tripled and scored on a Matt Liuzza double, making it a 4-0 game.

South Bend would battle back in the third frame, rallying for four runs to tie the game. Eli Rumler singled and scored on a Mike Mee double that cut the lead to 4-1. Taylor Harbin then reached when a ground ball went through the legs of Jackson, allowing Mee to score and make it a 4-2 game. Two batters later, Derrick Walker jolted a two-run homer to right-cneter field that knotted the game at 4-4.

Lansing however was able to regain control of the game in the fifth inning. With two men on, Sierra lined a single into left field that brought Liuzza home, putting Lansing back up 5-4. Eric Eiland then squeezed a triple just inside the first base line, plating both Ahrens and Sierra to make it 7-4.

The Lugnuts would add runs in the sixth and seventh innings, while South Bend would muster two more in the seventh.

Four Lugnuts had multiple RBI's in the game, as Jackson, Liuzza, Sierra, and Eiland all finished with a pair.

Chi-Hung Cheng made the start for Lansing, but came up one batter shy of qualifying for the win. He hurled 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits.

Instead Jimmy Dougher (1-0) picked up his first win by tossing 2 1/3 innings of relief. He allowed two runs while striking out four.

Tim Collins nailed down his fourth save by recording the final six outs of the game.

Beltre (6-6) took the loss for the Hawks after being tapped for seven runs on ten hits in five innings of work.

Lansing (48-35, 9-4) and South Bend (42-40, 9-4) will continue the series Wednesday night. Lefty Brian Letko (0-1, 5.63) will make his second start for the Lugnuts. He will be opposed by Dallas Buck (1-1, 5.14). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
1st: Justin Jackson starts the game with a dinger.
5th: Eric Eiland triples to blow the game open.