WASHINGTON, Pa. – In the 200th game of his professional career, Elijah MacNamee drove in three runs Saturday night to propel the Evansville Otters to a 5-3 win against the Washington Wild Things.
The Otters got their work started in the first inning as Bryan Rosario and Miles Gordon both got on base. After a fielder’s choice, Evansville had men at the corners when MacNamee drove in his first two runs with a two-run triple to right field.
Washington had their first big chance in the second, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a single. As Tyler Wilbur attempted to hit a sacrifice fly to right field, MacNamee’s throw home beat Andrew Czech to the plate to end the inning and Washington’s scoring hopes.
The teams combined for one base runner in the third, fourth and fifth innings, a single from Washington that was left stranded.
In the sixth, Evansville found a dose of insurance. After Daren Osby loaded the bases with walks, an error from third baseman Ian Walters allowed the Evansville advantage to rise to 3-0.
Washington found their comeback in the seventh inning, chasing Brett Adcock from the game with a leadoff double. Jacob Bowles entered the game, lasting only three batters, walking two and hitting the third, giving up a singular run.
Jake Polancic was the next Otter to enter the game in the seventh, bases loaded and the lead at 3-2. A walk to Scotty Debrule gave the Wild Things their second run of the inning.
Directly after, a fielder’s choice groundout from Hector Roa brought in a game-tying third run.
In the top half of the eighth, Evansville immediately struck back. J.R. Davis and Zach Biermann led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The inning continued with a weak hit ball by MacNamee on the ground to the third base side. MacNamee reached with an RBI single, scoring Davis, but an overthrow towards first allowed Biermann to score as well.
The 5-3 Evansville lead would be enough Saturday night, as Polancic and Logan Sawyer drew a close to the game, pitching scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
The win went to Jake Polancic in relief, but Adcock pitched well in the no-decision – allowing one run in three hits in his six innings. Zach Erwin received the loss in relief, allowing both runs in the eighth inning. Sawyer’s save was his league-leading 20th of the season.
With the win, Evansville wins the series, their second in a row. It is also the team’s fourth straight victory.
The Otters go for the series sweep on Sunday, with a 4:35 p.m. CT first pitch from Wild Things Park. Audio-only coverage is available for free on the Evansville Otters YouTube page.
