The Evansville Otters (19-11) split a doubleheader with the Windy City Thunderbolts (14-14) on Thursday night with a 1-0 victory in the opener and a 6-2 defeat in the final contest.
After a rain delay of three hours and eight minutes, the Otters went ahead of Windy City in game one on a first inning wild pitch. Evansville starting pitcher Trevor Walch maintained the 1-0 advantage, leaving two men on base in the second, stranding another pair of runners in the fifth, and keeping a runner at second in the sixth.
Ahead by a run, Otters closer Edgar Lopez worked around a one-out walk in the seventh to preserve the game one win.
Walch (3-2) earns the win, going 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one walk and five hits. Lopez recorded his seventh save of the season.
Designated hitter Nik Balog was 0-for-0 with three walks. First baseman Jeremy Nowak tallied two hits. Infielder Josh Allen finished 1-for-3 with the lone run scored.
In game two, Windy City leapt out to a lead with a second inning double play that scored a run.
Evansville tied the game in the second on a fielder’s choice from infielder Cory Urquhart and took a 2-1 lead with a Balog bloop single to left field.
Behind by one, Windy City regained the advantage with a two-run single from Alex Chittenden in the fourth and a double steal later in the inning made it 4-2 Windy City.
The Thunderbolts added two runs in the seventh for the 6-2 win.
Evansville starting pitcher Jake Raffaele (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings.
Infielder Shayne Houck posted two hits in the final game of the doubleheader.
The Otters continue their season-high nine game homestand with a series opener against the Traverse City Beach Bums on Friday, June 19. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. CDT at historic Bosse Field. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the team’s front office at 812.435.8686 or online at EvansvilleOtters.com.
For all of the latest information on the Otters, log on to EvansvilleOtters.com or follow the team’s twitter account @EvilleOtters.
