The Evansville Otters used an eight-run second inning to power their way to the Frontier League Championship Series on Saturday night.
Chris Breen led off the top of the second inning with a double to deep center to get the big inning started. The next batter, Jeff Gardner, drew a walk and then Nik Balog struck out for the first out of the inning. Chris Sweeney grounded into a fielder’s choice to the Slammers’ third baseman, Jake Gronsky, but Sweeney was able to beat the throw to first base to prevent the double play and keep the inning alive. With runners at first and third base, John Schultz drew a walk to load the bases. That brought up Julio Rodriguez with two out in the inning. Rodriguez would reach on an infield single, allowing Breen to score the first run of the game. The two- out rally continued, as a wild pitch allowed Sweeney to score and then Rolando Gomez had a base hit up the middle, scoring Schultz and Rodriguez, making it a 4-0 lead.
Josh Allen drew a walk and after a first pitch ball to Christopher Riopedre, Joliet decided to make a pitching change. Slammers’ Starting Pitcher, Chris Rice, exited the game after just 1.2 innings pitched and Zach Hirsch took over. Riopedre worked a two-out walk against Hirsch, loading the bases and bringing up Breen for the second time in the inning. Breen worked the count full, and then put the exclamation point on the inning with a grand slam to deep left center field. The eight runs with two outs in the inning gave Preston Olson a comfortable lead as he took the mound for the bottom of the second inning.
Preston Olson took the ball on short rest for Evansville, and was effective for the Otters all night long. Joliet was threatening to score in the second inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, but Olson was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout swinging. Joliet would score on Olson in the third and fourth innings but the lead was still in tact at 8-2 heading into the fifth inning. Olson worked two more scoreless innings and exited after six full innings of work, in good position for the win.
Joliet would score two more runs in the seventh inning against Tyler Thompson to make it 8-5, but that was as close as the Slammers would get. Ken Frosch came on in the seventh to get the final out, before working a scoreless eighth inning as well. Randy McCurry closed it out in the ninth, securing the 8-5 victory for the Otters. The victory clinched the Divisional series, sending Evansville to the Frontier League Championship Series.
The Evansville Otters will face the River City Rascals in the Frontier League Championship Series, starting next week at Bosse Field. The Otters will have home-field advantage for the Championship Series, and will play two home games at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
For more information on purchasing playoff tickets, or for any questions, please contact the Evansville Otters office at 812-435-8686 ext 21.
