Evansville, IN – The Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, lost their second straight game to the Evansville Otters 6-2 Sunday night. The loss dropped the Wild Things to 1-4 on their current road trip.

Washington (14-10) struggled early in the first inning. Newly appointed starter Justin Staatz walked the first batter of the bottom of the inning and later gave up two base hits that drove runs in for Evansville (12-13). Staatz’s third walk of the inning came with the bases loaded and upped the Otters’ lead to 3-0. Staatz ended the inning with a strikeout.

The Otters were able to put their leadoff batters on base in four consecutive innings, continually putting pressure on the Wild Things defense. In the fourth inning, Kyle Smith was able to leg out an RBI triple to increase the Wild Things’ deficit to four runs. The next batter, Ryan Bethel, knocked Smith home with a base hit ending Staatz’s night.

Newly acquired pitcher Travis Risser replaced Staatz after 3 1/3 innings and gave up an RBI double to Cody Montgomery. After four innings, the Otters were up 6-0.

Washington got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning on an RBI base hit by Kyle Werman to make the score 6-1.

The Wild Things didn’t give up and chipped away at Evansville’s lead in the top of the seventh. Chris Sidick drove in his eighth run of the season to cut the lead to four.

The game became a defensive struggle following the seventh. Neither teams put another run on the board.

With the win, Evansville pitcher Mark Murray picked up his first win in his first career start.

Washington’s ace, Aaron Ledbetter, will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow as he takes the mound against the Otters.

Evansville hosts the Wild Things again on Monday in a matinee game at 1:05 p.m. Washington returns to CONSOL Energy Park Tuesday for back-to-back three game series against the Southern Illinois Miners and the Evansville Otters. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the box office at 724-250-9555.