Otters Rally Late for 11 Inning Win at Joliet
July 4, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(JOLIET, ILLINOIS) - The Evansville Otters (25-16) scored three times in the ninth and witnessed Joliet tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, only to get an 11th inning home run from Chris Elder for the 5-4 victory on Friday night.
Coupled with a Washington Wild Things loss, this victory moves Evansville within one game of the Wild Things for first place in the Frontier League East Division.
The Otters went ahead in the third inning. Facing Slammers starter Andrew Busby, outfielder John Schultz hit a one-out triple to right-center field. It was his 10th career triple as an Otter, tying Jason Clark, Eric Joseph and David Robinson for most in franchise history. He scored on the next pitch, an RBI single from infielder Josh Allen.
Pitcher Trevor Walch tried to maintain the lead but a three-run home run from Chris Epps in the bottom of the inning pushed Joliet ahead 3-1.
The lead was held on to by Busy who retired the last 14 batters he faced entering the ninth.
Down 3-1, Evansville was facing pitcher Brett Zawacki who had not allowed a run over his 22.0 innings this season. Elder hit an RBI single to left field that brought the deficit to one. The Otters then pinch-hit Jeremy Nowak later in the inning and he ripped a line-drive go-ahead two run double to left field. The hit gave Evansville the 4-3 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Closer Orlando Santos recorded a strikeout to begin the inning but a wild pitch helped infielder Max Casper reach base. He moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a Grant DeBruin single later in the inning.
The 4-4 tie held true until Elder's home run in the 11th and reliever Jose Velez threw a hitless bottom of the 11th to earn the Otters the one-run victory.
Game two of the series will be on Saturday night at 6:05 pm CDT at Silver Cross Field. The Otters have yet to announce a starter. Joliet will have RHP Kody McFarland on the mound. Fans not attending the game can listen live to the contest on WUEV 91.5 FM. Play by play announcer Mike Radomski will have the call beginning at 5:45 pm CDT.
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Frontier League Stories from July 4, 2014
- ThunderBolts Fall 2-1 to Traverse City in 11 Innings - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Miners Use Big Fifth Inning to Bury Aviators - Rockford Aviators
- Otters Rally Late for 11 Inning Win at Joliet - Evansville Otters
- CornBelters can't hold lead, fall to Boomers - Normal CornBelters
- Slammers Lose a Heartbreaker 5-4 in 11 Innings on Friday - Joliet Slammers
- Rally Comes up Short - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boomers Treat Giant Crowd to Comeback Win - Schaumburg Boomers
- Rascals Lose 4-1 at GCS - River City Rascals
- Grizzlies Take Down Rascals in Front of 7,052 Fans - Gateway Grizzlies
- Freedom Wins on Independence Day - Florence Y'alls
- Wild Things Fall to Freedom - Washington Wild Things
- Crushers use two big innings to take both games of doubleheader - Lake Erie Crushers
- Big Innings Sink Aviators - Rockford Aviators
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