O’FALLON, Mo. — The River City Rascals mounted an epic comeback on Sunday evening to defeat the Evansville Otters 8-7 in the series finale at CarShield Field. Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth, the team rallied for four runs in the frame. The victory gave the Rascals the 2-1 series edge.
The Rascals jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, on a sacrifice fly from Kameron Esthay and an RBI groundout from JD Hearn in the first inning. However, the Otters struck for five runs in the second, rattling off seven straight hits. Carlos Castro started the rally with a solo home run. The Rascals respoded with a run-scoring single from Esthay in the bottom of the frame, cutting Evansville’s lead to 5-3.
Braxton Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth to trim the deficit to 5-4, but the Otters went up 7-4 after scoring two runs in the seventh. In the eighth, Tanner Murphy brought in two on a two-out double, which was immediately followed by an RBI single from Cody Livesay to tie the game. The Rascals took the 8-7 lead on a bases-loaded walk to James Morisano three batters later.
Rascals closer Jackson Sigman hit Keith Grieshaber with a pitch to lead-off the ninth, but retired the next three hitters in order–the last two on strikeouts–to seal the win and pick up his fifth save of the season.
Rascals starter Travis McQueen allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine without a walk. Tanner Cable (1-0) earned the win, pitching a scoreless top of the eighth.
Otters starter Jake Welch allowed four runs, three earned, in four-plus innings. He walked five and struck out five in a no-decision. Reliever Danny Hrbek (1-1) took the loss, walking two and hitting a batter, while recording one out.
The Rascals (10-6) now hit the road for a six-game trip, starting Tuesday night with the first of a three game set against the Southern Illinois Miners from Rent One Park in Marion, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CDT. Alex Winkelman will take the mound for the Rascals in the opener.
