KINSTON, N.C. (September 6, 2026) – Colby Backus hit his 20th home run of the season and the Bird Dawgs battled back twice to tie the game, but stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth as the Evansville Otters walked away with a 5-3 extra-inning victory at Historic Grainger Stadium Sunday afternoon, closing out the 2026 season with a series split and a final record of 48-54.

Evansville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on an LG Castillo RBI single before Backus answered with a two-run homer — his 20th of the season — to put Down East ahead 2-1.

The Otters went back in front in the sixth on a Blake Robertson two-run homer before Backus tied it again with an RBI single in the bottom half to knot it at 3-3.

The score held through nine innings before Robertson and Jon Ponder each singled in a run in the tenth to put Evansville ahead 5-3.

Down East loaded the bases in the bottom half but could not come through, leaving all three runners on to end the season.

Jace Miner started for Down East, allowing one run on five hits over 3⅓ innings with two strikeouts and one walk before exiting with an injury. Tanner Duncan (4-2) took the loss, allowing two runs — one earned — on four hits over two innings with one strikeout.

Landon Willeman started for Evansville, allowing three runs — two earned — on six hits over 5⅔ innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Chase Kreibel (2-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Junior Cerda collected his 21st save of the season, escaping the bases-loaded jam in the tenth.

The Bird Dawgs close the 2026 season at 48-54, setting a new franchise record for wins in a single season.