Mallard's Walk-Off Hit Earns Otters First 50 Win Season Since 2005
September 4, 2013 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
Designated hitter James Mallard hit a game-winning RBI single to right field, securing Evansville an 11-inning 5-4 win over River City and the Evansville Otters first 50 win season since 2005.
Evansville (50-45) also knocked River City (50-45) out of the playoffs with the extra innings win. The Otters stay a perfect 8-0 against the Rascals this season.
Mallard ended the continuation of a suspended game on Tuesday with a 13thinning single. He was in a similar spot on Wednesday when the Otters loaded the bases for him in the bottom of the 11th. Mallard worked a nine pitch at-bat before hitting a long line drive to right field that fell down for the game-winning hit.
2,886 fans and local school children were in attendance for the special 10:05 a.m. Education Day game.
J.R. Higley pushed Evansville ahead with a two-run home run in the second inning only to see River City score a run in the third and another in the sixth to tie the game.
Even at two, River City scored a pair of runs against reliever Scott Weismann in the top of the eighth. Down 4-2, Evansville drew a run closer with an RBI groundout from Ryan Kresky. The Otters tied the game two batters later on a Chris Elder single to center field.
Tied at four, Weismann allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth and nearly picked off runner Phil Wunderlich. The runner reached second base on the play and Weismann was then ejected after the play. Reliever Orlando Santos got out of the jam in the ninth, only to throw a scoreless 10th as well. Evan Mott (2-1) dealt a hitless top of the 11th before Mallard won the game in the bottom half.
Otters starter Trevor Walch received a no-decision, despite allowing just two runs on five hits in 7.0 innings. Elder, Higley Mallard, and John Nester have finished the game with two hits.
Evansville will now go for a series sweep and a perfect 9-0 record against River City in the season finale on Thursday. It is Working Distributors Night at historic Bosse Field with $2 draught specials for 16 ounces. Otters have left-hander Matt Zielinski (9-7, 3.59 ERA) going for an Otters single season record 10 wins against River City lefty Cory Caruso (5-2, 3.86 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:35 pm. The Otters pregame show starts at 6:15 pm CDT on WUEV 91.5 FM.
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