EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Despite falling behind to their crosstown rivals from Southern Indiana, the University of Evansville baseball team fought back to knot the game up late, only to fall in the final frame, in the annual "Battle at the Braun" Wednesday night.

The Screaming Eagles struck quickly, as Nick Gobert put a run across in the top of the first with an RBI single against Purple Aces starting pitcher Alex Weigand. However, that would be junior southpaw's lone blemish in two innings of work.

Sophomore right hand reliever David Ellis would replace Weigand, and got in trouble with a walk and a sacrifice bunt, putting a runner in scoring position. Drake McNamara would drive in that tally with a single to left, making it 2-0 USI. Junior right hander Austin Allinger would come in to put down the uprising, but he would uncork a wild pitch, allowing McNamara to race home with the second run of the inning, putting UE in a 3-0 hole.

However, the Aces responded in the sixth, as freshman pinch hitter Pete Vaccaro came off the bench and grooved a one out single up the middle, driving in Dalton Horstmeier, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Freshman designated hitter Tanner Craig would follow that up by sending a grounder to third, bringing in Kenton Crews, drawing Evansville within one run.

Head up base running would be the story in the bottom of the seventh, as senior third baseman Stewart Nelson, who singled to right, stone second, then took third on a wild pitch. That would set the table for sophomore shortstop Craig Shepherd, who hit into a fielder's choice, bringing Nelson home with the equalizer.

Knotted at 3 headed to the ninth, back-to-back singles, compounded by throwing errors allowed the Screaming Eagles to put two across, as USI built a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Craig Shepherd would get aboard with a single, putting the tying run at the plate. However, the Aces couldn't cash in, as they fall 5-3.

The loss drops the University of Evansville to 7-27 on the season, while Southern Indiana improves to 22-17. The Purple Aces are back at home this weekend to play host to their Missouri Valley Conference rivals from Southern Illinois. Friday night's game one  
is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.

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