The Aeros exploded for a season-high seven runs in the bottom of the sixth and took advantage of six Bowie errors en route to a 12-5 victory before 1,917 fans at Canal Park Friday night. Akron snapped a two-game losing skid to improve to 3-5, while the Baysox fell to 3-6.

Bowie starter Jason Berken dominated Akron for the first four innings, allowing just an infield single while his offense staked him to a 3-0 lead. The tide began to turn in the bottom of the fifth however, as consecutive two-out RBI doubles from Nathan Panther and Jose Constanza got Akron on the board and cut the deficit to 3-2.

The floodgates then officially burst open in the sixth, beginning with Josh Rodriguez’s leadoff homerun which chased Berken from the game. Ryan Keefer entered in relief and induced a grounder from Matt Whitney, but Bowie shortstop Blake Davis booted the ball as Whitney reached. Michael Aubrey followed with an RBI double to score Whitney and give Akron its first lead of the series, and two pitches later Wes Hodges sliced a double of his own down the right field line to plate Aubrey.

Hodges moved up to third on a passed ball, and Baysox centerfielder Mike Rodriguez then dropped Stephen Head’s fly ball in shallow center field as Hodges scored to make it 6-3. Bowie third baseman Jeff Nettles then threw away Chris Gimenez’s scorcher, and Davis committed his second error of the inning when he threw wildly past first base while trying to turn a double play, allowing two more runs to score. Constanza followed with an RBI triple to make it 8-3, and Brandon Chaves capped the inning with a sac fly.

Bowie got two runs back in the top of the seventh, but Akron answered with three in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by Head’s run-scoring triple to the right-center field gap.

Jeff Stevens (1-0) got the win in relief for Akron, allowing two runs and four hits in 1.2 innings. He struck out three and did not issue a walk. Keefer (0-2) was done in by the lack of defense behind him in the loss, allowing six runs (only one earned) and three hits in just 0.1 innings. Frank Herrmann started for Akron and worked into the sixth, surrendering three runs (one earned) on six hits in 5.1 innings. Constanza led the charge offensively with two hits and three RBI, while Hodges also had two hits and Head scored three times. Aubrey finished 1-5 and extended his hitting streak to eight games to open the season.

Game three in this four-game series is set for 2:05 p.m. Saturday afternoon, with lefty Ryan Edell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) taking the hill for Akron opposite Bowie’s Chris Tillman (0-0, 9.00 ERA). The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive an Aeros magnet schedule courtesy of AIG. The game broadcast begins at 1:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.