Liuzza, Emanuele Lift Lugnuts to Playoffs

South Bend, Ind. – For the ninth time in team history, the Lansing Lugnuts will appear in the Midwest League playoffs.

Lansing's 8-1 win over the South Bend SilverHawks Thursday night, coupled with a Great Lakes loss to West Michigan, guarantees the Lugnuts a spot in the playoffs as a second half qualifier. It also means that the Lugnuts will host a Round One game on September 5th.

Lansing trailed Thursday night's game 1-0 in the fourth, but Matt Liuzza and Chris Emanuele drilled back-to-back homers to put the Lugnuts ahead 2-1.

The Lugnuts added another run in the fifth before exploding in the top of the sixth for five runs. The frame was highlighted by a three-run double by Matt Lane that pushed the lead to 7-1. He would later score on a Paul Franko single that plated Lane and made it 8-1.

The game was called with one out in the bottom of the sixth when torrential rains came down onto the playing surface.

Nate Starner (11-9) got the win for Lansing, as he tossed the entire 5 1/3 innings while allowing just a run on two hits.

Lansing (68-60, 33-26) will return home to open a six-game homestand on Friday night as the Great Lakes Loons visit Oldsmobile Park. Friday is the final installment of the WILX Summer Entertainment Series, as it will be MSU versus U of M night. LAFCU fireworks will also follow the game.