Evansville closer snuffs Rockford rally
Published on July 10, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Evansville closer Eric Massingham slammed the door shut on the Rockford RiverHawks on Saturday.
Massingham struck out Jake Eigsti, the Frontier League's leading hitter, with the bases loaded with the tying runs to end the eighth inning. The right-hander then struck out the side in the ninth inning to finish the Otters' 8-5 win at Bosse Field.
Massingham retired all four batters he faced to earn his eighth save of the year. He has picked up the save in each of the Otters' three wins this week - all against Rockford.
The Otters took the lead for good with a four-run rally that started with two outs and nobody on in the sixth inning. Greg Fontenot doubled to right field and went to third base on a wild pitch by Joey Gradney. Gradney walked Joe Spiers and was relieved by Tyler Hyde. Spiers stole second base and Hyde walked still. Greg Alexander tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run single up the middle. Steve Cadoret relieved Hyde and Jamar Walton greeted him with another two-run single to center.
Rockford committed three errors and Evansville had two. Each side gave up three unearned runs.
The Otters scored two unearned runs in the seventh to increase the lead to four. In the top of the eighth, the first four Rockford batters reached against reliever Josh Cephas and an error cut the deficit to three runs with nobody out. Cephas struck out Freddy Parejo, Patrick Crider dispatched Dave Cooper on a pop to left and Massingham got Eigsti on a fly to the warning track in right field.
Eigsti was 3-for-5. Cleanup hitter Matt Greener was 2-for-4 with a fifth-inning home run.
Evansville starter Jeremy Thorne (2-6) gave up four runs, one earned, on eight hits over six innings for the win. Hyde (1-3), the third of five Rockford pitchers, took the loss.
The Otters, who dropped five of six coming into the series, have a chance for a three-game sweep. The last game of the season's first half is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Sunday and will be broadcast live on ESPN 1380.
The RiverHawks' next home game is at 7:05 p.m. July 21, when they host Washington on a Miller Lite/RBI's Thirsty Thursday.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 19th season. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
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