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MACON, Ga. -- Early in the season, it's all about finding a way for his young University of Evansville baseball team to win, according to head coach Wes Carroll.  The Aces did today, combining outstanding pitching with a five-run outburst in the 11th inning to split their four-game series against Mercer University, 6-1.

The Aces are now 2-5, and winners of two of their last three games, going into Wednesday's contest at Louisville.

"We battled, battled and battled," Carroll said.  "With a young team like ours, it's all about figuring out ways to win, and building confidence. Josh Biggs, Keegan Dennis and Tom Heithoff pitched really well.  Shawn Kuester had a key hit to get us into extra innings, and then we finally broke through in the 11th." 

Biggs, a lefty from Valparaiso, Ind., made his collegiate debut Sunday and allowed Mercer just one unearned run and three basehits in his four innings of work.  Dennis followed with four strikeouts in 3.1 scoreless innings, but it still looked like the Aces might head home with a 1-0 loss before Kuester came through in the clutch in the eighth inning.  Ryan Oesterle was plunked with a pitch to lead off the inning, went to second on Chris Pearson's sacrifice and then scored on Kuester's game-tying basehit.  

Heithoff relieved Dennis in the bottom of the eighth, and while Heithoff was keeping Mercer scoreless, Evansville's offense finally erupted in the 11th inning.  Alex Acheson walked, freshman shortstop Eric Stamets capped off an excellent weekend with a double, and veteran Cody Fick then ripped a double down the right field line off new pitcher Chris Newell to score both baserunners and give the Aces a 3-1 lead. Greg Wallace doubled in Fick for a 4-1 advantage, and Nate Smith gave Heithoff all the cushion he needed with his first home run of the season to complete Evansville's five-run inning.

Heithoff had two basehits Sunday, in addition to picking up his first victory on the mound.  Fick went 2-for-5 Sunday, and is now 12-for-30 at the plate for a .400 average seven games into the season.