Otters Sweep Doubleheader from Rascals in Walk-Off Fashion
July 22, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(EVANSVILLE, INDIANA) - Closer Eric Massingham set the franchise record for saves and infielder Greg Fontenot recorded four RBIs, including a game-winner, in a doubleheader sweep of the River City Rascals on Sunday night.
Evansville won the first game 4-1 behind a near complete game shutout from starter Garrett Bullock then rallied back late in the second game for a 3-2, 10-inning win.
Fontenot sparked the offense in the first game as he handed Evansville a lead with a two-run single in the third inning. The Otters would add another run in the inning and Fontenot would re-emerge again in the fifth with a run producing infield single.
Fueled by three Fontenot RBIs, Bullock took his complete game shutout bid to the seventh but ran into a jam. With two men on base, he was removed in favor of closer Eric Massingham who was tied with reliever Mike Bille for most saves in Otters history. After he gave up a walk and an error, Massingham then induced second baseman Doug Sanders to fly out to right field for his league-leading 14th save of the year and the 36th of his Otters career.
In game two, River City scored a run in the second off Ottersrquote starter Matt Crim and another run in the fourth.
Evansville trailed 2-0 all the way in to the bottom of the seventh inning. Infielder Luis Parache opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a pitching change, first baseman Nick Schwaner slapped a single to right field, scoring Parache on the play. The Otters trailed 2-1 until a few batters later when infielder Steve Marino ripped a game-tying single to center field.
River City's relievers and Evansville lefty Patrick Crider would game the game even at two in to the tenth. After two scoreless innings, Crider entered a two man on, and one out jam. Massingham was then brought in to record a groundout and a strikeout to keep the contest tied.
In the bottom of the tenth, outfielder Matt Sheely was hit in the head by a curveball and advanced to second on a Taylor Black sacrifice bunt. With Sheely at second, Fontenot struck a final time with a game-winning single to centerfield, securing the doubleheader sweep.
Evansville jumps to 25-34 with the sweep as River City drops to 31-28.
Massingham earned a win and save in the set of games as infielder Greg Fontenot had three hits and four runs batted in as well.
The Otters starting pitchers also stood out, as Bullock (3-5) allowed one unearned run in 6.2 innings and Crim surrendered two hits and just as many runs in 7.0 innings.
The Evansville Otters will now go for their first series sweep of the season on Monday night. It is Kams OTW night at Historic Bosse Field with $1 peanuts and a 6:35 p.m. CDT first pitch. Evansville native Adam Champion (3-3, 3.04 earned run average) will be on the mound for the Otters as he will be opposed by right-hander Preston Vancil (3-6, 4.20 ERA).
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