Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The visiting Illinois State Redbirds threatened to take the lead in the top of the ninth Friday night at Braun Stadium, but closer Zach Taylor retired the final out, leaving the bases loaded as the University of Evansville baseball team earned a 3-2 victory.

With a great outing, junior Kyle Lloyd (5-3) earned the win, holding the Redbirds off the board and to just two hits in seven innings of work, while striking out four.

The Aces combined for nine hits offensively, as Tim Bodine (2-for-2), John Day (2-for-3), Jake Mahon (2-for-4), and Kyle Pollock (2-for-4) each recorded multiple hits. Junior Eric Stamets went 1-for-3, belting his first home run of the season.

That one-out blast over the left field wall by Stamets in the fifth inning broke a scoreless stalemate and gave UE a 2-0 lead. Day also crossed the plate on the homer after starting the rally with a leadoff single through the right side.

The Aces took a 3-0 advantage in the seventh as Day again led off with a single, and Bodine immediately followed with a bunt single. Both runners moved up on a passed ball and Day scored on Mahon’s RBI single to center.

As the Aces looked to close the combined shutout, the Redbirds rallied in the ninth against the left-handed reliever Josh Biggs. Ty Wiesemeyer and Eric Aguilera singled, and Mike Hollenbeck drew the walk to load the bases for Kevin Tokarski. Tokarski lined a single through the left side, plating two, and prompted a call to the bullpen.

After Taylor got the pop fly for out number two, Kyle Stanton drew another walk to load the bases once again. However, Taylor earned his first save of the season, as a grounder to first base ended the game.

Evansville (31-24, 10-9) will face Illinois State (30-17, 9-9) in the series rubber match Saturday at 1:00 p.m. CT. Saturday is also Senior Day. Jordan Chavis, Trentt Copeland, and Zach Taylor will be honored in a pregame ceremony beginning at 12:45 p.m.