The Evansville Otters blasted three home runs to power their way to a 10-6 victory over the Gateway Grizzlies on Wednesday night at GCS Ballpark and moved into a tie with the Florence Freedom for the second wild card spot in the Frontier League.
Evansville broke through with two runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead. David Cronin hit a solo homer, his third of the season, and was immediately followed by Ryan Long with another solo home run, his twelfth of the year.
Hunter Cullen smashed a two-run homer, his third on the year, to give the Otters a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
Trae Santos hit a three-run homer to bring the Grizzlies to within a run in the bottom of the fifth.
J.J Gould plated the fifth run of the game for the Otters with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.
The Otters then broke the game open with five runs in the top of the ninth. Jeff Gardner plated a run with a double and was followed by a two-run single from Carlos Castro. Gould capped off the frame with a two-run single to raise his RBI total to three on the game.
Gateway plated three runs in the bottom half of the frame, but ultimately the Otters prevailed 10-6.
Tyler Beardsley picks up the win for the Otters, his fifth on the year. Beardsley went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
Joe Hauser takes the loss for Gateway. Hauser went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits and one strikeout.
Garrett Harris is credited with the save, his first of the year for Evansville. Harris threw the final three innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two.
The Otters will now go for the sweep of the series tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. at GCS Ballpark.
