Otters Win Series with Second Walk-Off in Two Nights
Published on July 3, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
(EVANSVILLE, INDIANA) - Evansville Otters (24-16) first baseman Nik Balog hit a game-winning ninth-inning RBI double to clinch a 5-4 win over the Frontier Greys on Thursday night.
The win, the Otters second walk-off in two nights, was seen by a Bosse Field season-high 6,445 fans.
Lefty Jacob Liedka started for the Greys but ran into an Otters rally in the bottom of the first inning. Outfielder John Schultz reached on a leadoff single, then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Cory Urquhart and a throwing error on Liedka. Both runners scored later in the frame on a sacrifice fly from Shayne Houck and an RBI single by Nik Balog.
USI alum Taylor Dennis started for the Otters but a run in the third and fourth innings tied the game at two.
Dennis would get more run support in the bottom of the fourth. The Otters took advantage of a leadoff fielding error to go back ahead on a Phillip Wilson single to right field and increase their lead on a Urquhart sacrifice fly.
Leading 4-2, Dennis left in a position to earn the win, yielding just two runs in a season best 6.0 innings. He also struck out a season-high six batters.
Reliever Brandon Shimo tried to maintain the two run lead but the Greys tied the game in the seventh. Frank Florio hit a home run that pulled the Greys within one and Cameron Monger evened up the score later in the frame with a single to center field.
The game stayed a 4-4 tie until the bottom of the ninth when Houck was hit by a pitch to start the inning. It was his third hit by pitch of the game, a new Otters single game record. Balog then ended the game with his gapper to left-center field, securing the Evansville series win.
The Otters finish their season-long homestand 6-2 and will now travel to Joliet, Illinois for a three game series against the Slammers. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm CDT on Friday, July 4 at Silver Cross Field. RHP Trevor Walch (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the mound for the Otters against Slammer righty Andrew Busby (1-3, 5.55 ERA). 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 6:45 pm CDT.
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