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EVANSVILLE, IN – The ThunderBolts dropped a pair of tight contests in a doubleheader to the Evansville Otters Wednesday night, falling 1-0 and 4-3 at Bosse Field.

The Otters scored game one’s only run with two outs in the third inning. John Schultz singled and Shayne Houck doubled him home to give the Otters all they would need offensively.

The ThunderBolts outhit Evansville 6-5 in the game and had their share of scoring opportunities, but they left seven men on base, including five in scoring position.

The game was the third 1-0 loss for the ThunderBolts this season.

Efrain Nieves (5-2) threw 6.2 shutout innings, earning the win and Wright struck out four with no walks in a complete game effort but took the loss. Edgar Lopez recorded the final out to notch his 11th save.

Game two began with the Otters taking a 1-0 lead on a first-inning RBI double from Dane Phillips. The ThunderBolts came back quickly for two runs in the second. Marquis Riley’s RBI single gave the Bolts their first run off of Trevor Walch in four career starts. Alex Chittenden singled home Riley to make it 2-1.

The Otters tied the score the next inning on a Dean Wilson bunt single and the score remained 2-2 until the fifth. With two outs and Houck at first, Evansville loaded the bases on back-to-back walks. Kurt Wertz delivered as a pinch hitter, singling home two runs to take the 4-2 lead.

Walch had retired 13 straight ThunderBolts into the ninth before Austin Gallagher doubled to lead off the inning. He would score on a Jacob Tanis sacrifice fly, but that was the extent of the Windy City offense as they dropped their seventh straight one-run decision.

Walch (5-2) went the distance for the win while Zak Wasserman (1-3) allowed three runs in 4.2 innings, taking the loss.

The ThunderBolts will try to stave off a sweep in the series finale in Evansville on Thursday. Danny Jimenez (2-2, 3.38) makes the start for Windy City against Evansville’s Will Oliver (4-2, 1.91). First pitch from Bosse Field is scheduled for 6:35 and the radio broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score