Otters Slug Season-High Four Home Runs in 11-3 Win at Gateway
July 24, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(SAUGET, ILLINOIS) - The Evansville Otters (34-22) hit a season-high four home runs in an 11-3 series opening win at the Gateway Grizzlies on Thursday night.
With a win and a Washington loss, Evansville is now just two games back of the Wild Things for first place in the Frontier League East Division.
The Otters greeted right-hander Aaron Newcomb with a barrage of home runs. Evansville tied a season-high with three home runs in just the second inning alone. First baseman Nik Balog hit a lead-off home run, left-fielder Jeremy Nowak hit a solo shot to right-field two batters later and All-star infielder Josh Allen belted a two-run home run to complete a four-run third.
Then Evansville struck again in the fourth inning. Infielder Shayne Houck and Balog walked to start the inning and outfielder Chris Sweeney followed with a three-run home run to left field. The home run was the 11th this season for Sweeney who also hit his third, three-run home run this roadtrip.
Up 7-0, Preston Olson (4-3) kept Gateway scoreless. The right-hander left a man on base in both the first and second innings, stranded a pair of runners in the third and left the bases loaded in the fourth inning.
The Otters scored another run in the sixth after a Grizzlies throwing error and their final run, an Allen RBI single in the seventh for a 9-0 lead.
Gateway scored three unearned runs in the seventh inning but reliever Evan Mott threw a scoreless eighth and ninth to complete the game.
Olson earns the win going 6.0 scoreless innings, his ninth quality start in 11 appearances this season.
Schultz and Allen both reached base five times in the win.
Game two of the series is Friday night at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. Left-hander Conor Kerins will make his pro debut for the Otters. He will be opposed by Grizzlies righty Tucker Jensen (6-2, 3.75). First pitch is set for 7:05 pm CDT. The game will be broadcast live on WUEV 91.5 FM. Fans can tune into the pregame show with Tom Benson and Zane Clodfelter beginning at 6:45 pm CDT.
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