EVANSVILLE — After playing to a deadlock through 12 innings on Friday evening, Milwaukee pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the 13th to win 7-5 and spoil the University of Evansville baseball team's home-opening game at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

"Right now, we're a team early in the season that is trying to learn how to win," UE head coach Wes Carroll said. "We had a lead going into 'winning time,' but coughed it up. We have to play all three of the aspects of the game better. We've shown flashes, but then we follow it up by giving up free bases and runs."

After Milwaukee (5-3) tied things up at 5-5 in the top of the seventh, UE (1-7) was able to keep the Panthers out of scoring position in all but one inning entering the 13th frame. However, a pair of leadoff walks against UE reliever Blake Swanger put UWM in business. John Boidanis laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third and chased Swanger from the mound.

Following the pitching change, which brought Jimmy Ward out of the bullpen, an errant throw back to the mound allowed the go-ahead run to score, and Chris Kelly tacked on another with a double down the left field line to make it 7-5.

In the bottom of the frame, Craig Shepherd led off with a single, and a Trey Hair two-out hit put the tying run on base. However, Andrew Tanous was unable to extend the game, popping out to second to hand UE its first home-opening loss since 2011.

The Panthers started off hot, as Cole Heili singled home a pair of runs in the opening stanza, but Stewart Nelson canceled out one of the scores in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff solo blast for his first home run of the season.

Nelson led the Aces with a 4-for-5 day at the plate with pair of walks.

Travis Tokarek would even the game in the second before a Matthew Jones sac fly pushed the Aces ahead in the third.

Daulton Varsho picked up one of his four hits on the day in the fifth, doubling home a run to tie things back up again for the Panthers at 3-3.

UE responded an inning later after an error and Hair hit plated a pair, but the lead was short-lived as Ben Chally cashed in two more UWM runs in the seventh.

Hair was the only other UE hitter with multiple hits, ending 2-for-7.

The Panthers very nearly pulled ahead in the ninth after a Varsho double to left put a runner on third with one out. Chally flew out in the ensuing at-bat, but Jones would gun the runner down at the plate to keep it level.

Varsho was one of three UWM hitters with multiple hits on the day, going 4-for-6, and both Devin Rybacki and Mike Ferri finished with two hits apiece as the Aces were out-hit 11-9.

UE and UWM will return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Braun Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

—#AcesAces —