FL Evansville Otters

Otters Take Final Game of Series Behind Will Oliver, Win 7-3

Published on June 14, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release


Marion, IL- The Evansville Otters (18-9) were able to salvage the last game of the series against the Southern Illinois Miners (17-10) thanks to a gutty and impressive performance by Will Oliver who was pitching on three days rest. The starter went six innings and struck out six while allowing three runs in yet another quality start as the Otters took the final game of the series 7-3.

The first inning saw four runs come across the plate for the Otters as they took advantage of a couple of miscues from the Miners and some wildness from their starter Rick Teasley. Jon Schultz reached on an error by the second basement Frank Martinez and after walks to both Shayne Houck and Nik Balog, Chris Sweeney stroked a broken bat single into left field to put the Otters on the board 2-0. An error by shortstop Ryan DiMascio allowed another run to score before the rains stopped action for 41 minutes.

When play resumed, Jeff Birkofer stood at the dish with the bases loaded, and after falling behind in the count 0-2, he was plunked in the small of the back, driving in the fourth run of the inning. Oliver carried that lead into the top of the fourth for the Otters when the first four batters reached base.

Cory Urquhart singled before Schultz hit his third double in two nights putting runners at second and third with nobody out. That brought Houck to the plate and he sat on a 3-1 pitch from Teasley and ripped it up the middle driving in Urquhart and Schultz for a 6-0 advantage.

A two run shot by Niko Vasquez in the fourth cut the Otters lead to 6-2, but Josh Allen launched his second home run of the season over the left field wall to start the fifth inning and move the Otters back in the lead by five at 7-2. Vasquez would again connect off of Oliver in the sixth for a solo shot before Oliver finished off the inning and outing in style by striking out the side, including freezing Aaron Gates on an 0-2 curve for the final out of the sixth.

Blake Monar and Adam Mott combined for a clean seventh inning and things got a little hairy for the Otters in the eighth, but their defense bailed them out once again. Connor Little was on the mound and the bases were loaded with one out, but he induced a slow roller to short that Urquhart and Allen were able to turn into a 6-4-3 double play to escape the jam.

Edgar Lopez came on the bottom of the ninth in his first non save situation of the season and capped the game off in impressive fashion, striking out the side in order to finish off the Miners.

Oliver improved to 3-1 on the season while going six innings and striking out six, and has won his last three starts while Rick Teasley drops to 4-2. Mike Pinto, the manager of the Miners was ejected in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.

The Otters next play on Wednesday, which is the 100th Anniversary Game at Bosse Field. The Otters will play host to the Windy City Thunderbolts for the historic event with the gates opening at a special time of 5:00 pm CDT.

Fans can purchase tickets by calling the team's front office at 812.435.8686 or online at EvansvilleOtters.com. For all of the latest information on the Otters, log on to EvansvilleOtters.com or follow the team's twitter account @EvilleOtters.

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Frontier League Stories from June 14, 2015


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