The Otters fell behind early as the Miners jumped out in front in the bottom of the first inning when Kyle Davis smashed a two-run home run and put the Miners ahead 2-0.
Evansville cut the deficit in half in the top of the third as Rob Calabrese hit a sac fly to left field, scoring Jack Meggs, and making the score 2-1.
The Miners increased their advantage back to two in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Joe Duncan that scored Jamey Smart. Southern Illinois led 3-1 after three.
Otters starter Brandyn Sittinger settled in after the third, going six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and six walks while striking out six. He would earn a no-decision.
Miners starter Marty Anderson was cruising through five, only allowing a run on two hits, but he would run into trouble in the sixth.
Calabrese led off with a solo home run, his ninth of the season, cutting the Miners’ lead to 3-2.
David Cronin followed with a single, Keith Grieshaber moved Cronin to third on a double, and Ryan Long walked to load the bases with no outs.
Elijah MacNamee scored Cronin on a sac fly to tie the game at three.
Anderson was pulled in the middle of the inning, finishing with three runs-two earned-allowed off five hits and two walks. He struck out five in 5.2 innings pitched, taking a no-decision.
From there, it was a battle of the bullpens as Cam Opp pitched two scoreless frames for the Otters and Heath Renz, Nick Durazo, and Will Headean did not allow a run for the Miners.
Southern Illinois turned to Gabe Gentner in the top of the ninth.
Tanner Wetrich led off with a single and moved over to second on a sac bunt by Meggs.
With one out, Wetrich stole third base, but the throw from Miners catcher Arturo Nieto sailed into the outfield, allowing Wetrich to score the go-ahead run for the Otters.
Otters closer Taylor Wright came on in the bottom of the ninth with a 4-3 edge, pitched a clean ninth inning, and ended the game on a strikeout to Davis. He earned his 16th save of the season, his third in three games.
Opp earned the win, improving his record to 4-1.
Gentner was given the loss, dropping his record to 2-4.
Calabrese had two RBIs in the game while Grieshaber and Wetrich each had two-hit games.
Completing their fifth sweep of the season, the Otters improved to 52-35 on the season and surpassed last season’s win total of 51 wins with nine games remaining on the schedule.
The single-season win record for the Otters is 57 after going 57-37 in the 2014 season.
Evansville’s magic number to clinch a postseason berth is at five.
The Otters will head back to Bosse Field on five-game win streak as they begin a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Florence Freedom. Evansville’s last regular season homestand will conclude with a series against the Gateway Grizzlies.
First pitch for Friday’s series opener will be at 6:35 p.m.
