EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Bradley junior outfielder Dan Brewer’s three-run home run to left field Saturday capped a four-run ninth inning rally by the Braves and helped Bradley even its Missouri Valley Conference series with Evansville with a 9-6 victory over the Purple Aces at UE’s Charles H. Braun Stadium.

 

Brewer belted a high fastball from freshman reliever Matthew Page (0-4) just over the wall in left field to snap a 6-6 tie and give the Braves a 9-6 lead. Bradley closer Kori Jensen would make the three-run lead hold up, as he set down the Purple Aces in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to record his third save of the year.

 

Evansville jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single to left field by junior shortstop Andy Smith. Bradley would answer back though with two runs in the third inning on a two-run double by outfielder Colby Luttrell to take a 2-1 lead.

 

Evansville would score an unearned run against the Braves in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2, before Bradley would tack on two more runs in the fourth inning to grab a 4-2 lead. The Purple Aces would scratch across a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 4-3 on an RBI ground out by Nate Smith, before rookie outfielder Greg Wallace would give UE a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning on a two-run double down the left field line.

 

Evansville would extend its lead to 6-4 in the seventh inning on a two-out RBI double by Andy Smith. Bradley’s Grant Escue would provide an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to trim the UE lead to 6-5, before the Braves would rally in the ninth inning to finally retake the lead.

 

Designated hitter Jim Clayton opened the ninth inning with a single up the middle, before pinch-runner Chris Gordon was moved to second base by a sacrifice bunt. An error on the infield moved runners to the corners with one out, before shortstop Matt Fritz laid down a squeeze bunt in front of home plate. UE catcher Andy Pascoe raced out and collected the ball and tried to tag Gordon at home plate, but Gordon eluded the tag and slid in safely to tie the game at 6-6. Brewer then gave Bradley the lead for good with his three-run home run to left field to even the series at one game apiece.

 

Brewer paced the Bradley offense at the top of the order, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Escue also had three base hits, while Fritz drove in three men for the Braves. For Evansville, Andy Smith and first baseman Derek Melton each pounded out three base hits, with Smith driving in two men.

 

With the victory, Bradley improves to 7-9 overall and 1-1 in the MVC. Evansville, meanwhile, slips to 2-16 overall and 1-1 in the Valley. The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Braun Stadium in a game that can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.