Thunderbolts Drop Saturday Showdown with Otters
Published on May 30, 2026 under Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release
CRESTWOOD, Ill - The Windy City ThunderBolts fell 8-2 on Saturday night to the Evansville Otters in the second game of a brief two-game series at Ozinga Field.
With Windy City (10-11) right-hander Blake Nettleton (0-1) making his professional debut, Evansville (13-7) opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning on a sacrifice bunt from Logan Brown.
The ThunderBolts answered right away in the home half of the first. After Michael Sandle led off the frame with a base hit, Carlos Pena doubled before Jared Beebe singled home Sandle to tie the game up at 1-1.
The scoreline remained that way until the top of the fourth when Marcos Gonzalez gave the Otters the lead for good with a two-RBI triple to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Evansville tacked on a run in the fifth, three runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth before Windy City got back on the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the ninth, James Dunlap doubled and eventually scored from third on an error by Otter pitcher Alex Valdez to make the 8-2.
Garrett Simpson (2-1) earned the win for Evansville, allowing one run on six hits across five full innings. Nettleton earned the loss in his first start for the Bolts, allowing four runs on six hits in five complete innings.
The ThunderBolts return to action Tuesday for the first of three games against the Florence Y'alls and the first of a six straight games on the road. First pitch for the opener from Thomas More Stadium is scheduled for 5:52 pm and broadcast information is available at wcthunderbolts.com.
Frontier League Stories from May 30, 2026
- ValleyCats, Mud Monsters Split Doubleheader, Series - Mississippi Mud Monsters
- Slammers' Late Game Rally Falls Short against Gateway - Joliet Slammers
- Titans Blanked by Bird Dawgs - Ottawa Titans
- Fraynel Nova Spectacular in 5-2 Defeat on Saturday - Lake Erie Crushers
- Grizzlies Lead Wire-to-Wire, Beat Slammers to Clinch Series - Gateway Grizzlies
- Thunderbolts Drop Saturday Showdown with Otters - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Bird Dawgs Blank Titans 10-0 to Clinch Series - Down East Bird Dawgs
- Tom Vaeth Earns 300th Win, Czech Sets Franchise Walks Record, Wild Things Take Middle Game - Washington Wild Things
- Simpson Deals as Otters Take Road Trip Finale - Evansville Otters
- Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short at Florence - Schaumburg Boomers
- Villalobos Shines, Offense Delivers in Series Win - Florence Y'alls
- The Carnival Is Coming Back to ForeFront Field June 10-14th - Lake Erie Crushers
- Slammers Fall to Gateway 16-2 - Joliet Slammers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
