Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With no outs in the bottom of the 11^th inning, junior Eric Stamets’ liner through the right side drove home senior Jordan Chavis from second, not only representing the winning run, Wednesday night at Braun Stadium, but the only run of the game, as the Aces overcame Belmont University, 1-0.

With the non-conference victory, the Aces improve to 27-18 on the season, while the Bruins fall to 28-17.

Tossing the final two innings, senior Zach Taylor (4-2) earned the win and preserved the combined shutout, allowing two hits, a walk, while striking out one. Sophomore Ryan Billo took the no decision after throwing nine shutout innings, scattering six hits, walking none, and struck out six.

A pitcher’s duel for both sides, Belmont starter Dan Ludwig had a perfect game going through five innings, but was relieved by five different arms on the predetermined staff day. The last hurler of the day, Tim Bowles (0-1), took the loss, allowing four hits and a run across the 10^th and 11^th innings.

Totaling six hits as a team, Stamets and Chavis both went 2-for-4, while freshman Kevin Kaczmarski and junior Jason Hockemeyer each tallied a hit in the contest.

Stamets broke up the Bruins’ combined perfect game in the seventh with a single to centerfield, but was left stranded. While the Aces’ defense did not allow a Belmont runner past first base in the late innings, offensively UE advanced men to third in both the bottom of the ninth and 10^th innings, but Belmont was able to get out of the jams.

However in the 11^th, Chavis led off with a single to left field and advanced to second following a passed ball on an inside pitch to Stamets. With the runner in scoring position, Stamets lined the ball under the dive of the second baseman to give Evansville its sixth walk-off win of the season.

The Aces are back in action this weekend, traveling to Dallas Baptist for a three-game non-conference series. Game one begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. Saturday’s doubleheader kicks off at 1:00 p.m.