Otters fall 8-4 to Traverse City

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The Evansville Otters dropped the first game of a three-game series against the Traverse City Beach Bums 8-4 at Wuerfel Park on Friday evening.

After leaving two runners on in the first, Traverse City struck for the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Donald Glover Jr. singled to right which scored Steve Lohr to put the Beach Bums up 1-0.

Jeff Gardner tied the game for the Otters in the fourth when he hit a solo home run to right, his third of the year.

The Beach Bums immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the inning when Arby Fields singled home a run to give Traverse City a 2-1 lead.

The Beach Bums opened the game up with three runs in the fifth. Steve Lohr singled home a run and was then brought on home on a two-run home run for Isaac Benard, his first of the season.

Traverse City added two more in the sixth, one coming home on a throwing error by Otters pitcher Garrett Harris and the second on a groundball double play.

The Beach Bums added another run in the seventh to take a seven-run lead. An RBI groundout from Fields brought home Lohr for the eighth Beach Bums run of the game.

The Otters closed the gap in the top of the eighth when Travis Harrison hit a three-run homer, his second of the season, to make it an 8-4 game.

That was as close as the Otters would get however, as reliever Kris Goodman shut the door on the Otters to secure the 8-4 victory for Traverse City.

Tyler Vail is handed his first loss of the season after giving up five runs, two earned, in five innings of work. Vail struck out seven and walked one as well.

Jordan Desguin records his second win of the year as he threw seven innings of one-run baseball. Desguin struck out four and walked three while allowing only three hits.

The Otters will face off against the Beach Bums again on Saturday at 7:05 ET from Wuerfel Park.

For the second game of the series the Otters will trot out Austin Nicely for his third start of the season. The southpaw is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings with five strikeouts this year.

Nicely will be opposed by Adam Cornwell for Traverse City. Cornwell has appeared in three games for Traverse City this year making two starts. The righty is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in 13 innings this season.

Coverage of the game will be broadcast on WUEV 91.5 FM with Sam Jellinek(play-by-play) on the call.

The Otters will return home for a three-game series May 30-31 against the Florence Freedom. Wednesday, May 30 will be a doubleheader, starting at 5:05 p.m. and is Deaconess Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility Night. The series finale on May 31 starts at 6:35 p.m. and will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season with special price drafts.