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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.--University of Evansville senior outfielder Jim Viscomi and sophomore third baseman Cody Fick both pounded out three base hits Friday, including their first career home runs at UE, but it was not enough, as the Purple Aces dropped the 2009 season opener by a score of 16-10 to the home-standing East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Viscomi made his presence felt immediately at the top of the order after missing almost the entire 2008 season due to injury, as he led off the game with a single and proceeded to steal the next three bases, including home, to give UE an early 1-0 lead.  Viscomi would then cap a three-run second-inning rally by UE with his first career home run, a solo shot to right-field, to give UE a 4-3 lead.

After the Buccaneers scratched across a single tally in the third inning to tie the game, and added three more runs in the fourth to grab a 7-4 lead, Fick and Viscomi helped UE answer back.  Fick started a two-run sixth inning with a hit-by-pitch, and would eventually come around to score on a Tom Heithoff RBI single ahead of a Viscomi RBI single.  Fick then ignited a two-run seventh-inning rally with a double down the left-field line with no one out to put two runners in scoring position.  Rookie DH Trentt Copeland would follow with an RBI ground out and senior shortstop Peter Tountas would add an RBI double to give UE an 8-7 lead, but the Bucs would explode for nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings against the UE bullpen to rally for victory.

“For the first six and a half innings, we played good, solid, fundamental baseball,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “We flat out competed in the batter’s box, and played with a lot of great energy and enthusiasm, which was great to see.  The key though is to play with that same type of energy and intensity for a full nine innings, or more, if need be.

“It was nice to see Viscomi come out and really set the tone for the entire team in the first inning.  He really gave us a spark offensively and came out ready to hit, and the rest of the team really followed his lead.  Cody Fick was also really locked in at the plate, and had a great game offensively.”

Viscomi finished 3-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBI, and three stolen bases.  Fick, meanwhile, finished a triple shy of the cycle, while going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.  Heithoff and fellow juniors Andy Pascoe and Alex Acheson also had two-hit efforts for UE. 

Junior catcher Danny Petro anchored a 17-hit attack for ETSU with a 4-for-5 performance, which included three doubles and four RBI.  Freshman shortstop Garrett May also went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI.  In all, the two teams combined for 26 runs on 32 hits, including 10 doubles, two triples, and three home runs in the season-opener for both teams.

UE (0-1) will try and answer back with a victory against ETSU (1-0) tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m. central time.  Live audio for Saturday’s game can be heard on-line courtesy of ETSU.