Box Score (pdf)
Box Score (html)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Evansville baseball team used a three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to overcome Lipscomb University, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Dugan Field.
 
The victory lifts UE’s record to 1-1 on the season, while the Bison fall to 1-1.
 
“It was an all-around good win with great jobs on the mound,” said head coach Wes Carroll “It was nice to see Sam Johns bounce back from last year’s season-ending injury and throw the ball well, giving us a chance to win, with Kyle Lloyd and Josh Biggs coming in.
 
“It was good to finally scratch off a couple runs with timely hits, including Kyle Pollock’s big two-out RBI double that gave us the go-ahead run in the seventh,” added Carroll. “Hopefully tomorrow we come out strong in the rubber match versus Middle Tennessee with a chance to win the weekend.”
 
Middle reliever Lloyd (1-0) earned the win, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and struck out one. Biggs picked up the save.
 
Right-hander Sam Johns got the no-decision, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs, seven hits, two walks, while striking out two.
 
The Bison took a quick lead in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs when Lee Wilson led off with a triple to right-centerfield and scored on M.L. William’s single to center. With one out, after catcher Chris Pearson caught Willams stealing, Zach Lowery walked and stole second, putting himself in scoring position for Zak Messer. Messer’s double to right center gave Lipscomb a 2-0 head start. Johns ended the inning with two groundball outs.
 
The Aces recorded their first run of the 2012 season in the top of the third when sophomore Tim Bodine reached on a bunt single to third and stole second. Junior Eric Stamets’ single up the middle made it a one-run game, 2-1.
 
With two outs in the fourth, Messer homered off Johns over the centerfield wall to make it 3-1, but Johns came back with a strikeout to limit the damage, and end his first outing on a high note.
 
After Lloyd hurled a scoreless sixth, the Aces got the bats going in the seventh. Leading off with a walk, Stamets came around to score on Kevin Kaczmarksi’s double to right-center. Kaczmarski advanced to third on Trentt Copeland’s groundout and Pearson walked to put runners on the corners with one out. Jake Mahon’s sacrifice bunt, plated the freshman centerfielder, and freshman Kyle Pollock’s double down the left field line brought in Pearson from second to give UE the go-ahead run and a 4-3 advantage.
 
Lloyd held the Bisons off in the bottom of the frame and sat down the first two batters in the eighth before Biggs came in to close.
 
Benjamin Johnson took the loss for Lipscomb.
 
Pollock led UE with two hits (2-4) and an RBI, while Stamets (1-4) and Kaczmarksi (1-4) each contributed a hit, run, and RBI. Pearson (1-3) and Bodine (1-2) each logged a hit and a run.
 
The Aces wrap up opening weekend tomorrow when they take on Middle Tennessee at 1:00 p.m. CT.