While things looked grim early on, Cayden Crabtree’s solid performance out of the bullpen led to a walk-off by Easton Blandford to give the Bombers a 4-3 lead over Kings City.
Owensboro struck first in the bottom of the second, as a single from Gavyn Minyard, an error and a walk loaded the bases with two outs for Harrison Bowman. He proceeded to single to left to plate the first run of the game, but that was all the Bombers would get as they took a 1-0 lead into the third.
Kings City didn’t take long to respond, quickly loading the bases themselves as Owen Payne surrendered back-to-back walks and a hit by pitch. Following a strikeout another hit by pitch knotted things up at 1-1, before an error then allowed Kings City to score two runs and grab their first lead of the game at 3-1 going into the bottom of the third.
The game then hit a stalemate, as Owensboro couldn’t muster up any offense and still trailed 3-1 going into the seventh inning. Crabtree had kept the Bombers in it going into the seventh, allowing no hits, a walk and striking out three in four shutout innings.
Owensboro’s offense quickly returned the favor for Crabtree, loading the bases once again following an error and back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the seventh. After a strikeout, a fielder’s choice brought in a run to make it a 3-2 game.
With two down and the Bombers’ backs against the wall, Blandford had one last chance to give them the win and he came through. A pop fly to right field found the outfield grass, as Crabtree and Brock Brubaker were able to score and gave Owensboro a 4-3 win to grab its second straight win and improve to 17-7 overall.
Blandford led the way at the plate with a pair of RBIs, while Brubaker and Bowman both chipped in one each. Payne had a decent day on the bump in his start, allowing the only hit of the game and giving up three earned runs while walking four and earning three strikeouts.
The Bombers will be back at it on Monday, as they will hit the road looking to extend their winning streak when they take on Madisonville at 6 p.m.
