Freedom score unearned run in bottom of ninth to win
July 6, 2006 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
Florence, KY-Just when it looked like the Evansville Otters (18-22) had finally found a way to beat the Florence Freedom (16-25), the rug was pulled out from under the team as the Freedom scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to take the 7-6 win on Thursday at Champion Window Field.
Trailing 6-4 heading to the ninth, the Otters got a two out, two run double off the left field wall, just narrowly missing a home run to give Evansville the lead. As it was however, the Otters were more than happy to have a 6-6 ballgame with their closer Mike Bille (1-3) coming into the fray.
Nick Geswein led of the inning with his third hit of the game, a first pitch single to center to get the rally started for the Freedom. Chris Brown then laid down a sacrifice bunt, which was mis-handled by Bille as he threw wildly down the right field line, allowing the runner to advance to second and third. Evansville then elected to intentionally walk Greg Buscher to load the bases and have a chance at a double play. That would never happen however as Wally Quiqq hit a line drive to center field that was caught by Dale Mueller, but Dale's throw made it to the plate just a bit late as pinch runner Nick Connor came sliding across the plate to give the Freedom their fifth straight win over Evansville this year.
Neither starting pitcher made it through the fourth inning, as both Jake Haggerty and BJ Church were having a hard time finding the plate of the home plate umpire. Each had at least one inning of thirty plus pitches and at the end of the day, neither would factor into the decision. Haggerty went three innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Church went just two and a third innings, allowing three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
At one time, Evansville had an early lead 3-1 after the top of the third. The Otters got their first two runs of the night after Kyle Smith doubled off the wall in left to start the inning. Kyle came in on an RBI single from Frank Scott, and Frank scored on a Brian McKenna RBI knock. Dale Mueller cashed in on an RBI chance in the third as he singled in Matt Edwards to give the Otters their biggest lead of the night.
The Freedom tied it up in the third with a walk and a double, putting runner at second and third. Chris Brown brought home a run with an RBI groundout and Wally Quigg doubled down the third base line to tie the game up.
The Freedom took their biggest lead of the night with a three run fourth inning on a Mike Galloway two run single and a Chris Brown sacrifice fly.
Evansville cut the lead down with a run in the sixth on a Brian McKenna RBI fielders-choice. The grounder scored Kyle Smith, who led off the inning with a bunt single.
The ninth certainly came down to the wire as Opening Day starter Curt Moenter came into close the game down in the ninth. McKenna struck out and Jeff Goldbach grounded out to give Evansville a pretty slim chance. Beau Blacken singled to keep the inning alive and Matt Edwards hit a ball up the first base line that was foul, but then took an odd roll and came back in play. First baseman Kyle Geswein could not field the oddly played ball and was charged with an error allowing the inning to continue. That's when Spry stepped to the plate and just absolutely teed off on a ball, blasting it off the wall to score both Blacken and Edwards. Mike went to third on a fielding error by Chris Brown, giving Evansville the go-ahead run at third with two men out. Dale Mueller grounded out to second however to end the threat.
The loss is the third of the first four games of the Otters five game road trip and assures the team of their seventh (of fourteen) series losses this season. Evansville will now have to win on Friday to avoid being swept for the fourth time this season. Infielders Frank Scott and Kyle Smith each had two hits in the loss for Evansville while Florence's Kyle Geswein led all hitters with a 3-4 night.
To no ones surprise, Evansville's bullpen was again magnificent, as Ryan Burnau pitched two scoreless innings, not allowing a hit. Next up was southpaw Donny Langdon, he too was perfect, striking out six in his three innings of work.
Otter Tracks: For the second straight night, Evansville had a last second lineup change as Rickey Clinton was a last second scratch and Brian McKenna was a last moment addition. The team fell to 11-19 when committing an error, as their ninth inning gaffe was indeed responsible for the game deciding run. The Otters also are now 4-10 in one run games and 1-4 in July. The team has not had a double digit hit night in six straight games as the team ranks last in the Frontier League with their .238 average.
Frontier League Stories from July 6, 2006
- Freedom score unearned run in bottom of ninth to win - Evansville Otters
- Windy City plates two in seventh for comeback win - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Grizzlies maul RiverHawks, 8-1 - Rockford RiverHawks
- T-Bolts rally past Beach Bums - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Losses Keep Piling up as Rascals Shutout By Paints 7-0 - River City Rascals
- Grizzlies take game two from Hawks - Gateway Grizzlies
- Strong pitching lead Wild Thing's to 4-1 victory - Washington Wild Things
- Two more Beach Bums named All-Stars - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Beuning, Mlotkowski and Bonilla named Frontier League All-Stars - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Six River City Rascals Named to Frontier League All-Star Team - River City Rascals
- Freedom Open Homestand with Win - OSC Original by Andrew Kappes
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