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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After working to earn the number one fielding percentage in the nation, the University of Evansville baseball team uncharacteristically committed three errors Tuesday afternoon at Indiana University, as the Hoosiers came from behind in the bottom of the ninth to steal a 5-4 win away from the Aces.

With the loss, Evansville falls to 30-23 on the season, while IU of the Big Ten improves to 27-26.

Scoring a run in each the second, third, and fourth innings, the Aces built a 3-0 lead before the Hoosiers responded with a three-run inning in the fifth to tie it up. In the eighth, Chris Pearson’s sacrifice fly plated Eric Stamets for the lead, but an error to lead off the bottom of the ninth led to an RBI single by Micah Johnson and walk-off single by Trace Knoblauch to give IU the win.

The Hoosiers out-hit UE, 12-5, in the contest, as junior Jason Hockemeyer piloted the Aces with a 2-for-4 performance. Stamets extended his hitting streak to six games, while also recording hit 100^th career stolen base and 30^th this season. Pearson and sophomore Jake Mahon each had one hit, rounding out the Aces’ offense.

Instead of picking up his seventh save of the season, closer Josh Biggs (4-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore Ryan Billo left the mound with the game tied after the fifth, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk, while striking out two. Senior Zach Taylor made his 90^th career appearance, keeping the Hoosiers off the board in the sixth and seventh with a strikeout, while junior Jake Naumann tossed a scoreless eighth.

Luke Harrison (1-0) earned the win, striking out two and held the Aces scoreless in the ninth, leaving a runner at third.

Starting the scoring in the second, Kevin Kaczmarski drew the leadoff walk and moved to third on a two-base wild pitch. With one out, Trentt Copeland’s fly ball was lost in the sun and scored the freshman, despite the Hoosiers still getting a force out at second on the fielder’s choice.

Tim Bodine also led off the third with a walk and moved into scoring position following Stamets’ sac bunt off starter Hunter Brown. Mahon gave UE a 2-0 lead with his 10^th double and 36^th RBI of the spring.

Evansville continued to expand the lead in the third, as Pearson led off with a single and scored on John Day’s sacrifice fly to left.

However, in the fifth, the Hoosiers took advantage of a leadoff error at second base, loading the bases after a single and hit batter. IU crossed the plate three times after an RBI fielder’s choice, run-scoring wild pitch, and RBI single, tying the game, 3-3.

In the eighth, Stamets started the inning with a double and stole third, setting up Pearson’s go-ahead sac fly with the bases loaded.

Unfortunately, the Hoosiers came barreling back on their home field in the final frame for the walk off win.

The Aces (30-23, 9-9 MVC) close out the regular season this week, hosting Illinois State Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the last Missouri Valley Conference series of the year. UE will be battling for a seed as high as second in the State Farm MVC Tournament that begins next Tuesday in Springfield, Mo.