The Otters were searching to provide offensive run support and did just that behind starter Tyler Beardsley.
Both starting pitchers settled in the first inning with a scoreless frame for each side, but both teams matched each other with a run in the second inning.
In the top of the second, Lake Erie had runners on first and second with one out when Karl Ellison doubled to score Jake Vieth from second base.
The Otters tied the game right back at one when Hunter Cullen hit a two-out RBI single with runners on first and second in the bottom half of the inning.
Evansville grabbed a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Cullen delivered with his second RBI knock of the night, driving in Dakota Phillips and Jack Meggs.
The Otters extended their advantage to 4-1 on an RBI single by Meggs in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, the Crushers had an opportunity to get back in the game with the bases loaded and one out, but Beardsley struck out consecutive batters to strand the bases loaded.
Meggs extended the Otters’ lead further with his second RBI of the night, pushing the Otters’ lead to 5-1 after seven innings.
The Crushers would bring it back to a three-run deficit on Jack Vieth’s solo home run in the top of the eighth inning off Otters reliever Michael Gizzi, who was in his second inning of work.
Otters reliever Cam Opp closed out the game in the top of the ninth, earning his first save of the season.
Beardsley picked up the win, moving his record to 7-3, after going 6.2 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts while surrendering just one run.
Lake Erie starter Jake Repavich took the loss, moving his record to 4-5, after pitching six innings and allowing four runs.
Offensively, Elijah MacNamee went 2-3 with three runs, Meggs was 3-4 with a pair of RBIs, and Cullen was 2-3 with three RBIs.
Concluding the homestand, the Otters will travel to Washington, Pa. to begin a three-game series over the weekend against the Washington Wild Things Friday.
First pitch for Friday’s series opener is at 6:05 p.m. CT.
