CornBelters fall to Otters for second straight game

Posted on May 18, 2016

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL- The Normal CornBelters gave up an offensive explosion in the second inning as the Evansville Otters captured a 14-2 win on Education Day on Wednesday at the Corn Crib.

The Otters struck right away with two runs on three hits and a walk with RBIs recorded by a John Schultz fielder’s choice and a Nik Balog single. The first three Otters walked to start the second inning in a foreshadowing of a damaging frame in which 14 Otters batted and 10 scored on six hits, a hit batter and an error for a 12-0 lead.

Dillon Haupt led off the Normal second inning with a home run to right field to cut the deficit to 12-1.

Evansville’s Dane Phillips contributed an RBI double to the left field corner in the fifth inning and was driven in by a single to center by Nik Balog to extend the guests’ lead to 14-1.

Haupt collected his third hit and second RBI of the game with a sixth-inning single to cut the Belters’ deficit to 14-2.

Max Duval (1-0) worked seven innings for the win, giving up two runs (earned) on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Belters starter Ben Eckels (0-1) worked one inning and could not record an out in the second inning, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on five hits with four walks and no strikeouts.

The series concludes with a 6:35 p.m. Thursday. The game can be heard on WJBC.com.

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