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BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, IN- A 5 RBI performance from DH Bren Spillane wasn’t enough for Windy City on Thursday Night, as the Evansville Otters (43-37) capitalized on three Bolts errors and secured a 9^th inning victory in the series finale at Bosse Field.

Windy City (30-50) jumped on the board first in the fourth frame courtesy of a Brynn Martinez leadoff triple off the wall in right field. Bren Spillane quickly knocked a single to left to plate Martinez and the first run of the game. Then, in the ensuing inning, Greer, Klein and Martinez all singled with 1 out against Otters starter Justin Watland. With the bases loaded, Spillane strikes again, this time hitting an opposite field grand slam, giving the Thunderbolts a 5-2 lead.

In the home half of the fifth, Brody Tanksley walked, and George Callil was hit by a pitch before Miles Gordon singled with two outs. A bases loaded walk to Bryan Rosario forced in a run, and a wild pitch scored another, making it a 5-4 game.

Behind 4.2 solid innings from starting pitcher Jack Alkire, and strong work by Dazon Cole and Daniel Kight out of the Bolts pen, the score remained the same until the 8^th inning. In the bottom of the inning, Bolts reliever Brett Smith walked Jeffrey Baez who then stole second and came around to score on an Elijah MacNamee RBI single to tie the game.

In the bottom of the 9^th, the Otters loaded the bases courtesy of a Miles Gordon single and two consecutive walks against Layne Schnitz-Paxton. Then, Jeffrey Baez hit an infield single that scored Miles Gordon from third, giving the Otters a walk-off victory and series win.

Bolts closer Layne Schnitz-Paxton (3-5) came on in the 8^th and shut the door to send the game tied heading to the final frame. He couldn’t seal the deal in the 9^th, however, and suffers his 5^th loss of the season. Otters’ starter Justin Watland went seven innings for Evansville, giving up all 5 Bolts runs of the night. Their closer, Logan Sawyer (1-1), didn’t add to his league leading 19 saves, however he picked up the victory on Thursday night.

The Thunderbolts’ 9 game road-trip continues Friday evening as the team begins a 3-game series with the Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget. First pitch scheduled for 6:45. Broadcast information can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.