Otters Pitching Fuels Doubleheader Sweep, Return Trip to First Place
August 27, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(EVANSVILLE, INDIANA) - The Evansville Otters (52-34) swept a doubleheader from the Windy City Thunderbolts with a 9-2 win in the opening game and a 2-0 victory in the final game.
Left-hander Jose Velez (2-4) struck out 16 batters in the complete game to begin the doubleheader. The 16 strikeouts tied Chris Pillsbury for most in a single game in Otters franchise history.
Evansville rallied early in game one and never relinquished the lead. Facing former Major League pitcher Josh Spence, the Otters scored three runs in the first including a two-run single for Jeremy Nowak.
A J.R. Higley sacrifice fly and Shayne Houck's RBI single made it 5-0 Otters in the second.
Windy City plated two runs in the fourth only to see Evansville score the final four runs of the game.
Velez secured a new career-high with his 12 strikeouts in the sixth and retired nine of the 10 hitters he faced. He tied the franchise record for strikeouts in a game by fanning catcher Mike McGuckin to end the game.
The final game of the doubleheader stayed scoreless for the first four innings. Evansville right-hander Will Oliver and Windy City righty Travis Tingle each retired the first nine batters they faced.
The Otters received four straight singles to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. The final hit was a bases loaded two run single by Josh Allen to left field.
Oliver (3-0) maintained the 2-0 lead with 6.0 scoreless innings for the win. Closer Eric Massingham pitched around a jame in the final inning to secure the doubleheader sweep.
Evansville will go for their second three game sweep of the season in the final game of the series on Thursday, August 28 at Bosse Field. It is Working Distributor's Night and Budweiser Thirsty Thursday with drink specials all night at Bosse Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm CDT.
Fans can call 812-435-8686 for tickets. The game will be broadcast live on WUEV 91.5 FM with the pregame show starting at 6:15 pm CDT.
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