Box Score (PDF)

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville Purple Aces baseball team would not go down without a fight on Saturday night.  Evansville loaded the bases with two outs against North Dakota State closer Shane Bushland, but could not plate any runs before the Bison closer shut the door.

North Dakota State struck first in the top of the first inning with back-to-back RBI hits from first baseman Mike Germain and catcher Kole Zimmerman.  Evansville got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning, when designated hitter Derek Melton scored on a passed ball from NDSU starter Ben Mathiason (1-2).  The Aces would tie the game with two outs later in the inning on a RBI single from second baseman Shawn Kuester.

The Bison would plate two more runs in the top of the fifth inning on run scoring hits from Zimmerman and third baseman Eric Nutzhorn.  The Aces would tack another run on the board in the eighth inning when Kuester beat out a potential double-play at first base to plate shortstop Andy Smith.

Evansville starter John Foley (1-1) threw six innings of eight hit ball, striking out four and allowing four runs.  Aces reliever Matthew Page kept Evansville close until the end, pitching three perfect innings of relief to close out the game.  Bison closer Shane Bushland earned his first save of season by pitching the final five outs of the game.

With the loss, Evansville pushes its record to 1-14 on the season, while North Dakota State improves to 2-6.  Sunday will conclude the 2008 Dunn Hospitality Classic, with North Dakota State taking on Cleveland State at 11:00 a.m. and Central Michigan battling Evansville at 3:00 p.m.

In the first game of the day, Cleveland State topped Central Michigan by a score of 4-2.  CSU catcher Josh Geric led the Vikings with two RBI singles, while Chippewa catcher Tyler Stovall guided the Central Michigan offensive attack with a two-run double in the third inning.  With the win, Cleveland State improved to 5-6, while Central Michigan fell to 3-11.