Sweeney's Homerun Sends Wild Card Game to Evansville
Published on September 4, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Washington Wild Things News Release
Washington, PA-Sometimes one pitch and one swing can decide an entire ballgame. Take for instance Thursday night's game between the Evansville Otters and the Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Financial, in the regular season finale at CONSOL Energy Park. Wild Things pitcher Matt Sergey may have well had his best start of the season, aside from his perfect game, but a solo homerun launched by Otters right fielder Chris Sweeney in the seventh lifted Evansville to a 1-0 victory. With Washington's loss, the Wild Things will travel to Bosse Field for the Frontier League's one-game wild card playoff Saturday, September 6.
Sergey finished his dominant performance with a single-season career best eleven strikeouts. In seven innings of work, Sergey allowed just three hits, two walks and only one earned run, the solo homerun off Sweeney's bat in the seventh. His mound opponent Edgar Lopez, making just his third start for Evansville, tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six Wild Things.
Washington had many opportunities in the ballgame despite an impressive performance by the Evansville's starter. A leadoff walk to centerfielder Danny Poma in the first and a two-out triple by Andrew Heck in the second inning gave Washington multiple chances to take an early advantage but the Wild Things were unable to capitalize.
Evansville broke the scoreless pitchers' duel in the top of the seventh as Sweeney led off the visitors half of the inning with his 21st home run of the season for the Otters 1-0 advantage. The Things manufactured another golden scoring chance in the bottom of the seventh as third baseman Carter Bell led off the inning with his 11th double of the season. Bell slid safely into third for his 29th steal of the season but was left stranded as Lopez earned a groundout and strikeout to end the inning. Otters closer Massingham worked a scoreless ninth sending Evansville and Washington back to Bosse Field for the venue's first playoff game since 2006 in its 100th year of existence.
The Wild Things and Otters will meet Saturday in the newly-instituted Frontier League playoff game on Saturday, September 6th. First pitch at Bosse Field for the win or go home contest is slated for 7:35 p.m. EDT. Listen to the game on WJPA 95.3 FM and/or follow live game updates on Twitter @washwildthings. Washington will send lefty Zac Fuesser to the mound while the host Evansville will counter with their righty Preston Olson.
Frontier League Stories from September 4, 2014
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- Freedom Drop Season Finale to Rascals - Florence Y'alls
- How the West Is Won: Rascals Bash Freedom To Clinch - River City Rascals
- Lopez, Sweeney Secure Home Playoff Game for Otters - Evansville Otters
- Sweeney's Homerun Sends Wild Card Game to Evansville - Washington Wild Things
- Rascals Playoff Pep Rally/ Food Truck Frenzy Friday - River City Rascals
- September 4 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Home Playoff Game on the Line for Evansville Otters on Thursday - Evansville Otters
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