Pitching Fuels Otters Doubleheader Sweep
Published on July 1, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Evansville Otters (26-15) swept a doubleheader from the Windy City Thunderbolts (15-24) on Wednesday night with a 1-0 victory in the opening contest and a 4-3 win in game two.
Left-hander Efrain Nieves (6-2) pitched 6.2 scoreless innings of six hit baseball in the game one win. Right-hander Trevor Walch (5-2) then threw a complete game in the finale to complete the doubleheader sweep.
In game one, the two teams stayed scoreless until the third when the Otters went ahead on an RBI double form infielder Shayne Houck.
Nieves used the one-run lead to his advantage, stranding a runner on base in the fifth and sixth innings. He pitched into the seventh as closer Edgar Lopez (11th save) recorded the final out, for the 1-0 Evansville victory in game one.
Houck tallied two hits and the lone RBI in the doubleheader opener. Outfielder John Schultz was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
The Otters also took the lead in game two with a first inning single from designated hitter Dane Phillips. After signing with Evansville earlier in the day, Phillips totaled two hits in his Otters debut.
After Windy City scored two runs in the second, Evansville evened up the score in the bottom of the inning on a bunt single from infielder Dean Wilson.
Tied 2-2, the Otters leapt ahead with a pinch-hit, bases loaded, two run single by Kurt Wertz Jr. in the fifth inning.
Walch retired 13 batters in a row through the middle innings, and despite allowing a run in the seventh, set down the final two batters to complete the doubleheader sweep. The righty yielded three runs (one earned) on just four hits for the victory.
Eight Otters combined for the nine team hits in the finale.
The Otters and Thunderbolts complete the three game series on Thursday, July 2. It is Edward Jones night at Bosse Field with a postgame fireworks extravaganza. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. CDT. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the team's front office at 812.435.8686 or online at EvansvilleOtters.com.
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