The River City Rascals won a rain-shortened series finale over the Evansville Otters on Sunday night at Bosse Field, winning 7-3 in seven innings before severe thunderstorms hit the area in the middle of the eighth inning. Though the top of the eighth was completed, it will not officially count as the Otters didn’t have a chance to bat. The Rascals scored their seven runs on just five hits.
Nolan Meadows got the Rascals offense started with a two-run shot in the second inning. After Keith Grieshaber tripled to lead-off the third for the Otters, scoring on a ground-out from Jacob Evans, Kameron Esthay made it 3-1 Rascals with his solo shot to lead-off the fourth. Ryan Long homered in the bottom of the frame to bring the Otters within a run. They tied the game on a two-out RBI single from David Cronin in the fifth.
The Rascals then scored three runs in the sixth, without the benefit of a hit. With the bases loaded, both Zach Lavy and JD Hearn drove in a run on fielder’s choices, and the third run scored on a throwing error into second from Evans. Braxton Martinez added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 7-3 Rascals.
Rascals starter Tanner Cable, facing his former team, went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts in a no-decision. Reliever Taylor Purus (1-1) took the win, recording the final out of the fifth. Yeison Medina went two scoreless innings to close out the game, earning his third save.
Otters starter Tyler Vail (2-4) took the loss, pitching into the seventh while allowing five runs on just two hits, wiht two walks and five strikeouts.
The Rascals (24-20) are off Monday, and continue their road trip in Joliet, Ill. on Tuesday to take on the Joliet Slammers. 1st pitch for the series opener is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT from DuPage Medical Group Field. Brendan Feldmann will take the mound for the Rascals.
