Box Score

ST. LOUIS – The University of Evansville baseball team could not recover from falling into a five-run hole at the start of Wednesday’s game versus Saint Louis University. UE was edged, 6-5, by the Billikens, falling to 12-9 on the season, as SLU improved to 17-8.

Senior Cody Fick belted his third home run of the year in the seventh inning to put the Aces within one, but that was as close as UE would get. Fick went 2-for-4 at the plate, while senior Jared Baehl led the squad with three hits and two runs batted in. Sophomore Eric Stamets also had a multi-hit game with two knocks and a run scored.

On the mound, junior Trentt Copeland (2-2) took the loss, throwing four innings and allowing six runs on 11 hits and three walks, while striking out one. Sophomore Josh Biggs came out of the bullpen to toss four strong scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out five.

“We didn’t play well enough to win a baseball game today,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll. “Josh Biggs kept us in the game, but our offense couldn’t complete the comeback.”

The Billikens jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a double and RBI single off starter Copeland. SLU tallied four runs in the second inning on five hits. A leadoff walk, followed by back-to-back doubles and single brought around three, and two more singles scored the fourth run of the frame.

Evansville got on the board in the top of the fourth when senior Ryan Oesterle led off the side with a walk and senior Nate Smith singled through the left side to advance Oesterle to second. Baehle brought him home on a single to centerfield.

The Billikens also added one in the fourth on a leadoff single and double by Steve Fernandez. Fernandez caused a lot of problems for the Aces throughout the game, going 4-for-5 with three RBI.

Evansville had a big fifth inning, scoring three runs on two hits and an error to threaten St. Louis. Stamets led off the frame with a single to left center, and Wallace walked to put runners on first and second. A double steal and throwing error by the catcher brought around Stamets for the first run of the inning. Oesterle plated Wallace on a groundout, and Baehl tripled to left center and brought around Smith who reached after getting hit by a pitch to cap the rally and make the score 6-4.

Fick homered in the seventh, but that was it for the Aces’ offense as Travis Parker picked up the save for the Billikens.

The Aces look to bounce back this weekend when they host IPFW for a three-game series at Braun Stadium. Friday’s game starts at 6:00 p.m. CDT.