Otters Mount Comeback in Ninth to Beat Gateway
Published on July 8, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Evansville, Ind. - The Gateway Grizzlies led by a run heading into the bottom half of the ninth inning on Friday evening, but the Evansville Otters received a two-run homer from John Schultz to win it in walk-off fashion at Bosse Field, 4-3.
The Grizzlies (25-26) ultimately could not capitalize on a tremendous pitching performance by right-hander Dakota Smith, who tossed eight innings while allowing just two runs on three hits. He picked up the no-decision.
Smith handed the ball off to Jordan Wellander (2-1), who came on in the ninth looking for his second save of the season. After retiring Rolando Gomez, the righty gave up a single to Josh Allen. Wellander then fell behind Schultz and surrendered a blast over the right centerfield fence to end the game.
For the first time on their road trip, the Grizzlies scored first as they rallied for two runs in the third. Seth Heck hit a one-out double against Evansville starter Hunter Ackerman while Craig Massoni followed it with a double of his own to plate Heck. Tyler Tewell then stepped in and blooped a single into centerfield as Massoni scored. Gateway took a 2-0 lead.
Evansville (27-21) scored a run in the bottom half of the inning on Chris Riopedre's RBI double.
The teams traded runs in the fourth. Gateway put together back-to-back doubles as Logan Davis and Josh Bunselmeyer struck a pair to score a run. The Otters got the run right back on Nik Balog's RBI single. The Grizzlies maintained a 3-2 lead up until the ninth.
Gateway's offense was shutdown the rest of the game by Evansville's relief core. RHP Shane Weedman threw a scoreless sixth while LHP Ken Frosch chipped in with a solid 1.2 innings. RHP Tyler Thompson (4-2) allowed the first two batters to reach base in the top half of the ninth, but got out of the jam with no runs across. Gateway's lack of an insurance run set up Schultz's heroics in the bottom half.
The Grizzlies and Otters play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 5:35 p.m. The Grizzlies will send RHP Vince Molesky to the mound in Game 1 and RHP JaVaun West will pitch in Game 2. The Otters counter with RHP Tyler Vail in Game 1 and RHP Preston Olson in Game 2.
The doubleheader can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs Saturday on 1400 AM KJFF, 94.3 FM/1570 AM WBGZ, and online at www.GatewayGrizzlies.com/Radio. Sam Levitt has the play-by-play call.
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