The home-standing Owensboro Oilers defeated the visiting Tradewater Pirates Thursday night by a final score of 5 to 4.  The Pirates scored first with one run in the top of the 1st inning. Leadoff hitter Brock Bontrager walked, and an errant throw trying to keep him off second base moved him over to third base instead. Bontrager came in on a RBI single by Eric Herman.  The Oilers  tied the score with one run in the bottom of the 1st inning. Leadoff hitter  Ryan Stephens batted himself in with a solo home run to start the frame.  Owensboro took the lead with one run in the bottom the 2nd inning. Jordan Cessna led off the inning with a walk, and stole second base. Wild pitches brought him the rest of the way around.  The Oilers increased their advantage to 3-1 with another single run in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Oiler newcomer Ty Stetson reached on a fielder's choice that put him on first with one out. He stole both second and third bases, and scored on a RBI groundout by Eric Barnes.

Tradewater began its own series of scoring with one run in the top of the 6th inning. With two out, David Zorn bunted on safely, and he stole second base. The next two batters walked -- suddenly the bases were loaded. Tony Becerra followed by reaching on an error that allowed Zone to score. The score shrank to 3-2.  The Pirates tied the game with one run in the top of the 7th inning. Bill Pace led off with a single and moved to second base on a groundout. He was still there an out later when a high pop-up between home plate and the mound became an object lesson in never assuming any catch is a sure thing. Pace came all the way from second to score the tying run, making it 3 to 3. Tradewater took the lead with one more run in the top of the 8th inning. With one out,  Bontrager singled, and stole second base. Becerra walked. Herman followed with an RBI infield grounder, while Becerra was out at second base, the double play attempt eluded control -- and Bontrager scored. The game had reversed directions and Tradewater led 4-3.  

The Owensboro Oilers reclaimed the game with two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning. Pinch-hitter Gabriel Pena led off with a walk. Then pinch-hitter Luis Milla sacrificed Pena over to second base. One strikeout later, he was still on second base, but a wild pitch and passed ball consecutively in the process of walking Stetson brought Pena in for the tie. Barnes followed the walk to Stetson by reaching on an error, and the hustling Stetson created an errant throw to third base that brought him in with the go-ahead run. The score held at 5 to 4 through the top of the 9th inning to end the game.  Owensboro reliever Jim Mulvaney picks up the win, and Austin Clay strikes out two in a scoreless 9th inning for a save. Tradewater reliever Keita Murakami takes the tough loss.