The Evansville Otters scratched out a 3-2 victory over the River City Rascals on Saturday night at Carshield Field thanks to four scoreless frames from the bullpen and three unearned runs allowed by Rascals pitching.
The Otters plated two runs in the second inning to open the scoring. Mike Rizzitello singled to short and a subsequent throwing error form the shortstop allowed Travis Harrison to score the first run of the game. David Cronin then walked with the bases loaded to force home the second run of the frame.
River City responded in the bottom half of the second with a solo home run from Kevin Suarez.
The Rascals then tied the game in the third on an RBI double from Clint Freeman.
Zach Welz put the Otters back on top with an RBI groundout in the top of the sixth.
The Otters bullpen would go on to pitch four shutout innings, including a perfect ninth for Mitch Aker as he closed out the game for the 3-2 win and his seventeenth save of the season.
Tyler Beardsley gets the win for the Otters, his third of the year, in his first start of the season. Beardsley worked five innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while registering five strikeouts.
Chad Gendron is handed the loss for the Rascals. Gendron worked two innings, allowing an unearned run to cross the plate in the sixth which proved to be the difference in the game.
River City starter Dan Ludwig worked just three innings, allowing two unearned runs and striking out six.
The two teams will play the rubber match of the series tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. at CarShield Field.
