The Evansville Otters were defeated by the Schaumburg Boomers 8-7 on a walk-off home run on Thursday evening at Boomers Stadium.
Evansville jumped out in front with three runs in the top of the first. Toby Thomas brought home the first run with a bunt base hit. Then with the bases loaded, Brandon Dulin drew a walk forcing home a second run. Luis Vilorio then capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Thomas.
Schaumburg got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning on a Kenny Towns two-run single.
The Otters tacked on four more runs in the top of the second. Thomas drilled a two-run double and then Jeff Gardner drove home a run with a groundout. Thomas would then score on a wild pitch to finish off the frame.
Two more runs came home to score for the Boomers in the bottom of the second on a Collin Ferguson base hit.
Schaumburg then got within one thanks to a two-run triple off the bat of Jack Parenty to make the score 7-6.
The Boomers tied the game in the seventh on an RBI hit from Nick Oddo, but had the go-ahead run thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
The game would stay tied until the bottom of the ninth when Towns hit a solo homer to left to win the game for the Boomers in walk-off fashion.
Otters starter Ty Hensley did not factor in to the decision as he threw 2.2 innings, allowing six runs, four earned, while striking out three.
Gunnar Kines also receives a no decision for the Boomers. Kines threw two innings allowing seven runs, six earned.
Jake Joyce is credited with the win for the Boomers after throwing a scoreless top of the ninth.
Mitch Aker is hung with his second loss of the year after giving up the walk off home run.
Evansville now returns to Bosse Field for a three-game set against the Traverse City Beach Bums on June 15-17. The weekend series is highlighted by Boys and Girls Club Weekend with Evan the Otter’s birthday and Superhero Night on Friday, postgame fireworks Saturday and Family Fun Day with the family package available on Sunday.
