FL Evansville Otters

Otters Break Eight Game Slide with Walk-Off Win

Published on July 26, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release


Evansville, IN - Carrying the weight of an eight game losing streak, the Otters rallied for three runs in the final two innings to defeat the Gateway Grizzlies 5-4 Saturday night at Bosse Field.

A ninth straight defeat looked imminent with the Otters trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. A Cameron Satterwhite pinch-hit double plated one run to cut the deficit to 4-2. Reliever Andrew Werner held the Grizzlies scoreless in the top of the ninth inning, setting the stage for a dramatic comeback.

Javier Brown led off the bottom of the ninth with a comebacker off of pitcher Eric Ridener's glove for an infield single. One batter later, Eric Blackwell singled, advancing Brown to second. Brown scored when the next batter, Luke Hetherington, singled. With the Otters trailing 4-3, Greg Alexander came to the plate with runners on first and second and one out.

Alexander, once the Otters' hottest hitter and their leader in RBIs, had fallen on hard times. He stepped in hitless in his last 14 at-bats, with only 2 RBI in his last nine games.

Alexander, undeterred, belted a slider to the left-centerfield gap. Blackwell, at second base, waited to see if the ball would be caught, while Hetherington took off immediately from first. The ball landed and rolled all the way to the wall, creating a dramatic scene with Blackwell rounding third base and Hetherington right behind him. Both runners scored standing up without a play at the plate, giving the Otters a 5-4 walk-off victory.

The dugout poured out to mob Blackwell and Alexander, then turned and swarmed Alexander, who was making his way off of second base.

"I'm just real excited, to get a big hit like that, being 0-14 and it being a game winner," said Alexander.

John Ducey again delivered a strong performance for the Otters, and again was denied the win. Ducey tossed seven innings, surrendering only three runs on five hits. Andrew Werner (1-0) collected his first professional victory, pitching the final two innings.

Ridener (0-1), the Grizzlies all-time saves leader, took the loss, allowing three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

The Grizzlies got solo home runs from Charlie Lisk (20), Stephen Holdren (17), and Jareck West (6).

The Otters (17-40) now hit the road for a three game series with Windy City beginning Sunday at 6:05pm CDT.

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