By WJBC Staff
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Normal CornBelters split a doubleheader with the Evansville Otters on Thursday night at Bosse Field, winning the opener 5-4 in eight innings while falling 3-2 in the nightcap on a walk-off home run.
The CornBelters continued the trend of first-inning scoring in the opener as Ty Morris drew a lead-off walk, went to third on a single by Dylan Kelly and scored on a double by Aaron Dudley that one-hopped the right field wall near the foul pole. Kelly scored on a sacrifice fly by Dillon Haupt to put the Belters up 2-0.
Nik Balog cut the Evansville deficit to 2-1 with a home run to right field in the second inning. The Otters tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning when John Schultz walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double to the left field corner by Chris Breen.
The Belters regained a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning when Santiago Chrino singled, was sacrificed to second by Mike Fish and scored on Kelly single to left.
The Otters tied the game in the seventh when pinch hitter Julio Rodriguez singled and went to third base on two wild pitches by closer Race Parmenter, scoring on a sacrifice fly to right field by Rolando Gomez.
The CornBelters pushed the go-ahead runs across the plate in the eighth inning by loading the bases and scoring pinch runner Mitch Elliott with a line single up the middle by Morris. R.J. Perucki later scored on a wild pitch with a run that turned out to be vital, as Evansville tallied on a John Schultz lead-off double, a fielder’s choice and a passed ball, but could not again find a tying run.
Parmenter (1-0) earned the win despite his second blown save. Shane Weedman (3-1) took the loss.
In the nightcap, the Belters broke through first in the fourth inning when Nolan Meadows reached base on a single and R.J. Perucki reached on an error, with both driven home by a Santiago Chirino double to the left center gap.
The Otters tied the contest at 2-2 in the fifth inning as Kaeo Aliviado doubled followed by a walk to Rolando Gomez. A single by Josh Allen loaded the bases, and John Schultz plated Aliviado with a sacrifice fly. Gomez came home from third with the tying run on a pickoff throw to first base that got away.
Aliviado ended the game with a one-out home run well over the right field wall.
Tyler Thompson (2-1) picked up the win while Horatio Acosta (1-1) sustained the loss.
The series concludes Thursday with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch at Bosse Field as the Belters send right-hander Matt Chavarria (0-2, 3.00 ERA) to the mound while the Otters counter with lefty Hunter Ackerman (1-1, 5.11). Broadcast time on WJBC.com is 6:20.
