The Owensboro Oilers won the third and deciding game of their first round, best-of-three playoff series over the visiting Tradewater Pirates. The final score was 4 to 3.  The Oilers scored first with one run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Drew Barrett led the inning off with a double. A sacrifice bunt moved Barrett over to third base. Ryan Messex drove Barrett in with a RBI single to account for the scoring. Owensboro added a run to its lead in the bottom of the 4th inning. With one out, Ryan Stephens singled, then sped all the way to third base on a two-base error.  Barrett followed with an RBI single. The Oilers went on to load the bases up, but the Pirates got the two outs they wanted without more scoring. The Oilers led 2 to 0.  Tradewater scored all three of its runs with two outs in the top of the 6th inning. J.B. Sapienza walked to lead off the inning, and a sacrifice bunt moved him up to second base. A strike out later, Eric Herman walked. During Tony Becerra's  at-bat Sapienza stole third base and Herman moved up to second base without a throw. Becerra delivered a 2 RBI double off tiring Oilers starter Allen Haase, scoring both Sapienza and Herman. Then Tyler McDonald also RBI doubled to bring in Becerra. A groundout ended the rally --but now the Oilers trailed 3-2.  Owensboro tied the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. Brent Weinzapfel led off with a walk, and he was sacrificed over to second base. A pop fly out later Ty Stetson RBI singled to score Weinzapfel.  In the bottom of the 8th inning the Oilers retook the lead with a run. With one out, Eric Barnes singled. He moved up to second base on groundout. Austin Hargrove came through with a clutch RBI single, Barnes scored easily on the move. At the end of 8 innings it was 4 to 3 Oilers, if they could keep it that way. Owensboro reliever Jim Mulvaney came in for the top of the 9th and settled matters with two strikeouts and a grouundout.  The winner was Oilers reliever Tim Steed -- who's scoreless 2.33 innings gave the Oilers offense a chance to rally back ahead. Mulvaney earned the save. The loss fell on Pirates reliever Calyn Young.  The Oilers and our community wish the Pirates and theirs smooth sailing in the off season.