EVANSVILLE, Ind. -Â The Evansville Otters overcame an early three-run deficit Thursday to defeat the Joliet Slammers 7-3 and complete a series sweep.
Joliet wasted no time scoring early, stealing a run in the second inning on a passed ball past Dakota Phillips on a pitch from Evansville starter Steve Pastora.
In the third, the Slammers grabbed another pair of runs, both scoring on a two-run double from Scott Holzwasser, extending the lead to 3-0.
Pastora’s day ended after three innings, giving up three runs on four hits. Ryan O’Reilly entered for a long relief opportunity, making the most of it.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Otters finally retaliated. Dakota Phillips brought in a single run with a sacrifice fly to left.
Two batters later, Anthony Torreullas tied the game at three with a two-run single.
The Otters grabbed the lead in the fifth on an error from Joliet’s second baseman Matt Burch, pulling ahead 4-3.
The 4-3 Otter advantage lasted into the eighth inning when Evansville cashed in on three insurance runs.
Two runs scored on a deep sacrifice fly to center field from Miles Gordon. The final insurance run scored on an error from Joliet’s third baseman Tyler DePreta-Johnson.
The Otters took a 7-3 lead into the ninth inning and called upon bullpen arm Jake Polancic to close out the game. A two-out walk wasn’t enough to challenge Polancic, as Evansville held firm to their four-run lead.
O’Reilly earned the win in relief, allowing no runs and just two hits in five complete innings. The loss fell to Cam Aufderheide, his third of 2022.
With the win, Evansville earned their fifth series sweep of the season, their fourth at home.
The Otters are back at it Friday night as they kick off a four-game holiday weekend series at Gateway. First pitch from Sauget, Ill is 6:45 p.m. for all four games this weekend.
