By: Braeden Jones
EVANSVILLE, IN – In a game where most innings were quick and efficient, a single scoring round from both teams would be all that was featured as the Evansville Otters (45-30) got all the scoring that they needed to beat the Joliet Slammers (30-45) with a 4-1 victory.
For the first five innings of this match, near-perfect pitching from both sides was the story of this game. The Slammers, however, would be the first to break through once the top of the 6th inning came around. After Patrick Ward got himself a single, Jackson Valera would bring him home with an RBI double. That started the scoring with Joliet ahead 1-0.
The Otters would come crashing in with a response in the bottom of the 6th inning. The bases would be loaded early with a TJ Salvaggio single, Jon Ponder single, and a walk on Amani Jones being the cause. Down two outs, Marcos Gonzalez came in clutch with a 3-RBI triple to score everybody on base. Gonzalez would get to come home as well thanks to an RBI double from Blake Robertson. After the 0-0 tie was just broken, Evansville stole away the Slammers’ lead to take a 4-1 advantage.
After the sixth inning marked the first scores for both teams, it would also end up being the last. Strong pitching from both teams put this game away in a 4-1 win for the Otters.
After dropping the last three matches of a rare four-game series, the Slammers will try to sleep it off as they head to Gateway to play the Grizzlies, starting on Friday. Having won the home series, the Otters will head on the road to play the Washington Wild Things, starting Friday night.
