The Evansville Otters moved inside a game of first place in the Frontier League West Division Wednesday night thanks to a stellar, seven-inning shutout performance from Tim Holdgrafer in a 3-1 win over the Florence Y’alls.
The Otters completed all their scoring in the bottom of the second, notching their first tally when Jose Pujols doubled home Riley Krane from first for his first hit in an Evansville uniform.
Evansville extended their lead to three when Gary Mattis, who went 2-3 with two doubles in his professional debut Tuesday night, doubled home a pair of runs after a base hit from Andrew Penner and a walk issued to Michael Gangwish loaded the bases.
That was all the offense Holdgrafer would need, spinning seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball in an eventual winning decision.
Tyler Spring would relieve Holdgrafer to start the eighth, pitching a perfect frame.
In the top of the ninth, the Otters would move to their closer Logan Sawyer. The Y’alls would chalk up their lone run of the ballgame off Sawyer when Chad Sedio doubled home Connor Perry.
Sawyer showed his grit on the mound by stranding the tying run in scoring position, striking out the last batter of the game to send the Otters to a 3-1 victory.
Sawyer picked up his league-leading fourteenth save of the season, while Holdgrafer earned his fifth win.
With the victory, the Otters have a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the West Division with a sweep of the Y’alls Thursday night.
The Otters will welcome fans for a Working Distributors Thirsty Thursday and German Heritage Night with Germania Maennechoir. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m.
