The Evansville Otters lost 5-3 to the Southern Illinois Miners on Tuesday night at Rent One Park as the Otters were walked off on by Chance Shepard for the second time this season.
Austin Bush opened the scoring for the Otters with a two-run homer in the second inning, his first of the year.
Ryan Long extended the Otters lead with a solo homer, his eighth on the year, in the third inning.
Southern Illinois got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a Harrison Bragg solo home run.
The game would stay at 3-1 until the bottom of the ninth. Southern Illinois got one run back on a Romeo Cortina RBI fielder’s choice to make it a 3-2 game. Then with runners at first and second, Shepard hit a three-run homer to left to walk it off for the Miners and give Southern Illinois the 5-3 victory.
Zach Hartman picks up the win for the Miners after throwing a scoreless ninth inning.
Mitch Aker is saddled with his fifth loss of the season. Aker recorded one out in the ninth while giving up four runs on three hits.
Otters starter Austin Nicely is given a no-decision for his efforts. Nicely went six innings, allowing just one run on four hits while walking four and striking out five.
Geno Encina also gets a no-decision for Southern Illinois. Encina tossed 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out six.
The Otters will take a day off tomorrow and then return to Southern Illinois on Thursday to take on the Miners in a doubleheader that will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Rent One Park.
