The Evansville Otters (40-19) utilized a four run fourth inning and withstood a late Washington Wild Things (25-34) rally for an 8-4 win on Saturday night.
The Otters obtained the lead in the first with a solo home run from outfielder John Schultz. It was the ninth home run for Schultz this season, tying Shayne Houck for the team lead. The home run also produced the 100th RBI for Schultz with the Otters franchise, seventh most in franchise history. Evansville added another run later in the first inning on an infield single from designated hitter Jeremy Nowak for the 2-0 advantage.
Up by a pair of runs, the Otters extended their lead with another four runs in the fourth including two-run doubles from infielders Dean Wilson and Josh Allen.
Ahead 6-0, Evansville starter Tyler Vail took a one-hitter into the sixth. In that frame, Washington drew closer with RBI doubles from designated hitter David Popkins and infielder Carter Bell. Down by four, the Wild Things drew another two runs in the seventh. Trailing 6-4, Washington brought the go-ahead run to the plate but reliever Connor Little induced a foul pop up to end the inning.
Narrowly ahead 6-4, Evansville rallied back to score two more runs in the bottom of the inning. The Otters tallied a run on a groundout from infielder Cory Urquhart and then another on a double steal.
Ahead 8-4, Little fired 2.0 innings into the ninth when Washington brought the tying run to the on-deck circle. Otters closer Edgar Lopez then entered the game to retire Cody Herald on a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Evansville is the quickest team in the Frontier League to 40 wins this season and still has the best record of all clubs this summer.
Vail (7-2) earned his fifth straight win, allowing just three runs in 6.1 innings. The save for Lopez was his 18th in as many chances.
Allen, first baseman Nik Balog, Schultz and Wilson each tallied two hits each in the victory. Allen and Wilson posted two RBIs each. Balog also scored twice in the contest. Schultz ended the night 2-for-5, moving his hitting streak to 11 games. Outfielder Dane Phillips saw his five game hitting streak end with an 0-for-3 night.
The series concludes on Sunday, July 26 with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. CDT.
