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EVANSVILLE, IN – The Evansville Otters scored three early runs and cruised to a 6-1 win over the ThunderBolts to take the series at Bosse Field Thursday night.
 
David Cronin reached on an error to begin the bottom of the first inning. He stole second and moved to third on another error before Ryan Long’s sacrifice fly gave the Otters (17-13) their first run.
 
They added two more in the third inning when two singles and a passed ball set up a Cronin two-out two-run single.
 
The ThunderBolts (14-16) loaded the bases with only one out in the fourth inning but were unable to get a run in and Evansville distanced themselves the following frame.
 
With two outs and no one on, Carlos Castro doubled and Rob Calabrese hit a two-run homer just inside the left field foul pole, making the score 5-0.
 
The Bolts were able to avoid being shutout when they plated their only run in the top of the eighth inning. Blair Beck doubled and scored on a Dash Winningham base hit. The Otters immediately responded with a run to put the game away in the bottom of the inning. Patrick Mathis, in his professional pitching debut, walked the bases loaded and Blake Hickman walked a run in to make the final score 6-1.
 
Former ThunderBolt Jake Welch (1-1) picked up his first win of the year, throwing eight innings and allowing one run on eight hits. Kenny Mathews (1-3) took the loss. He allowed five runs (three earned) over 5.1 innings.
 
The ThunderBolts’ road trip continues on Friday as the Bolts are hosted by the Gateway Grizzlies. Christian Morris (1-2, 4.21) starts for Windy City against Gateway’s Lucas Lanphere (1-2, 6.66). First pitch from GCS Credit Union Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

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