Otters Outslug CornBelters, Hold on Late for 10-7 Win
May 17, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(NORMAL, ILLINOIS) - A day after being shutout, the Evansville Otters offense exploded for a 10-7 victory over the Normal CornBelters on Saturday night. The victory at the Corn Crib is the first for Evansville at the Normal, Illinois ballpark since 2011.
Evansville hopped ahead early with a solo home run from first baseman Jeremy Nowak and an RBI double from Cory Urquhart. It was the first home run this season for Nowak and the first pro hit for Urquhart that pushed Evansville ahead 2-0. The lead only lasted a few minutes though as Normal scored twice in the bottom of the inning against Evansville pitcher Chad James. The former first round pick of the Florida Marlins loaded the bases but allowed a two-run game-tying single to infielder Josh Band. After a walk, he rebounded to get a lineout to end the inning.
In a tie game at two, the Otters then batted around in the third inning and scored six times. Outfielder Chris Elder pushed Evansville ahead again with a two-run ground rule double to center field and Allen responded with a two-run triple just a few batters later. Outfielder John Schultz and infielder Cory Urquhart also had RBI hits in the inning.
Up 8-2, Evansville look destined for the win but Normal rallied back. The CornBelters scored two runs in the third, another two in the fourth and one run in the sixth to pull within a run.
Ahead 8-7, Evansville's bullpen maintained the lead. Reliever Jose Velez recorded back to back strikeouts to leave two runners on base in the seventh and USI alum Taylor Dennis stranded another two runners on base in the eighth. The Otters added two insurance runs in the ninth and closer Orlando Santos worked around a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth for the win.
Evansville now evens up the series as both teams stand at 1-1 this season. Eight Otters recorded at least one hit in the win. Nowak also scored three times in the Evansville win.
Game three of the series is Sunday night. First pitch is set for 6:00 pm CT as the Otters have right-hander Terance Marin on the mound against fellow righty Ethan Elias for Normal.
Otters Opening Day will take place on Wednesday, May 21st at historic Bosse Field with a doubleheader sponsored by Carson's Brewery. The Otters host the Rockford Aviators on Deaconess Senior night! First pitch will take place at 5:35 pm CT.
Frontier League Stories from May 17, 2014
- Rally Falls Short, Aviators Fall 6-5 - Rockford Aviators
- Miners Can't Hold Lead, Fall To Slammers - Southern Illinois Miners
- Otters Outslug CornBelters, Hold on Late for 10-7 Win - Evansville Otters
- Big 3rd Inning Lifts Otters over CornBelters - Normal CornBelters
- Devine Outdueled by Newcomb, 1-0 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Aaron Newcomb Pitches Grizzlies to Shutout Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Freedom Sweep Wild Things with Extra Inning Victory - Florence Y'alls
- Washington Wild Things Fall to Florence in Extra Innings, 6-5 - Washington Wild Things
- Slammers Come Back to Defeat Miners 3-2 - Joliet Slammers
- ThunderBolts Win Second Straight to Start Season - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Ryan Hutchison's walk off homer caps Crushers comeback - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boomers Fall Late in Ohio - Schaumburg Boomers
- May 17 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Look for First Win of the Season Tonight at Normal - Evansville Otters
- Rascals Win Game One of 2014 Season! - River City Rascals
- Miners Nipped Late at Joliet - Southern Illinois Miners
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.
