Evansville Otters Complete Sweep At Gateway With 7-2 Win
July 26, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(SAUGET, ILLINOIS) - The Evansville Otters (36-22) used two big offensive innings and a strong pitching performance from starter Trevor Walch to secure a three-game sweep of the host Gateway Grizzlies (37-24) with a 7-2 victory on Saturday night at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. With the victory and a Washington Wild Things loss at Southern Illinois on Saturday, the Otters closed to within a game of first place in the Frontier League's East Division standings.
The Otters jumped to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, thanks to an RBI single by third baseman Shayne Houck and a two-run ground-rule double by outfielder Chris Sweeney. After Gateway was able to close the gap to 3-2 in the sixth inning with a pair of unearned runs, the Otters would add four insurance runs in the ninth on a two-run double by designated hitter Jeremy Nowak and a two-run triple by outfielder J.R. HIgley.
While the Otters' offense pounded out seven runs on 12 base hits, Walch (4-0) kept the Grizzlies' attack at bay, limiting Gateway to just two unearned runs on five base hits, while striking out eight. While Walch saw his scoreless-inning streak snap at 24.1 innings with the two runs allowed in the sixth, he posted his fifth quality start in five starts for the Otters.
Offensively, second baseman Josh Allen paced the Otters by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Sweeney, Nowak and first baseman Nik Balog added a pair of hits apiece. Sweeney added two doubles and two RBI, while Nowak and HIgley added two RBI each.
Evansville will now return home to historic Bosse Field to open an important three-game, two-day series against the Washington Wild Things. The series will begin Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. CT with the Otters scheduled to send right-hander Taylor Dennis (1-1, 5.81 ERA) to the mound to oppose Washington right-hander Alex Kaminsky (2-4, 4.20 ERA).
Sunday's series opener can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV, with Mike Radomski set to provide the play-by-play action. Every Evansville Otters game can also be heard on-line at both EvansvilleOtters.com and WUEV.org.
• Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board...
Frontier League Stories from July 26, 2014
- Evansville Otters Complete Sweep At Gateway With 7-2 Win - Evansville Otters
- Lake Erie takes rubber match with ninth inning rally - Lake Erie Crushers
- Otters Take Series Finale from Grizzlies - Gateway Grizzlies
- CornBelters Surrender Two Leads in Loss to Crushers - Normal CornBelters
- Schaumburg Shuts out Traverse City 4-0 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Slammers Win a Wild One at Windy City 16-5 on Saturday - Joliet Slammers
- Boomers Blank Bums - Schaumburg Boomers
- Miners Score Early, Often, Beat Washington - Southern Illinois Miners
- Offense Stays Cold in Loss to Rockford - Florence Y'alls
- Aviators Prevail Through Injuries; Win Series over Freedom - Rockford Aviators
- Washington's Late Rally Falls Short in 9-6 Loss to Miners - Washington Wild Things
- Washington's Late Rally Falls - Washington Wild Things
- July 26 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Butler Drives in 4 as Rascals Win - River City Rascals
- Otters Seek First Three Game Sweep of the Season on Saturday - Evansville Otters
- ThunderBolts Make First 2014 Trip to Aviators Stadium - Rockford Aviators
- Crushers cure Corn Crib curse - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boomers Best Beach Bums 14-11 - Traverse City Beach Bums
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
