Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – With one out in the top of the ninth, the University of Evansville baseball team brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but the hosting Murray State Thoroughbreds drew the double play ball, taking a 3-1 victory over the Aces Wednesday afternoon at Reagan Field. The loss marks UE’s first in midweek play this season and drops the Aces overall record to 20-13, while the Breds improve to 17-17 on the year.

Sophomore Ryan Billo (5-1) took his first loss of the season, despite pitching well, tossing six and a third innings, allowing two runs, eight scattered hits, a walk, and struck out two. Reliever Jake Naumann threw the remaining one and two thirds, giving up a run, two hits, while striking out one.

“Billo gave us a chance on the mound, but we didn’t capitalize on a couple opportunities offensively today,” said head coach Wes Carroll.

Recording his third straight multi-hit game, Chris Pearson led the Aces’ offense, going 2-for-4, while Eric Stamets, Jake Mahon, Kyle Pollock, and Jason Hockemeyer combined for UE’s six hits in the game.

Evansville took the lead in the top of the third when sophomore Tim Bodine walked to reach base, advanced on Stamets’ sacrifice bunt, and scored on Mahon’s RBI single up the middle.

However, the Breds answered back immediately in the bottom half of the inning, stringing together two singles and a sac fly to even the score.

From there, Murray State starter Kyle Cornett sat the Aces down in order through the next three frames, and the Breds struck again in the bottom of the sixth. MSU led off with a single, double, and sacrifice fly to take the lead and then added another run in the eighth following two singles.

Trailing 3-1 going into the ninth, Pearson and Hockemeyer lined back-to-back singles with one out to bring Andy Lasher, the go-ahead run, to the plate. However, MSU closer Will Handlin forced the game-ending double play.

Cornett (3-1) earned the win for the Breds, tossing six innings, allowing one run, four hits, three walks, and struck out four.

The Aces return to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, hosting Wichita State for a three-game series that begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT at Braun Stadium.