Box Score BOX SCORE

KENNESAW, Ga. – All seven runs scored  by the University of Evansville and host Kennesaw State were scored in the first three innings, as the Purple Aces fell, 4-3, to the Owls Friday evening in the first game of a three-game set in Kennesaw, Ga.

“It was just another hard fought game that didn’t go our way,” head coach Wes Carroll said.  “Kennesaw State’s bullpen did a great job and really shut down our hitters.  They got the big two-out hit when they needed to and we just couldn’t find a hole to get out two-out hit.”
 
Redshirt junior Johnny Day led Evansville (3-8) at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBI.  Senior Jason Hockemeyer notched the only other RBI for the Aces, going 1-for-4 with an RBI double.
 
On the mound, junior starter Cole Isom (0-3) gave up three runs in the first, but settled in and allowed just one run over the next 6.1 innings and notched seven strikeouts.  Freshman Brent Jurceka finished UE’s pitching line, tossing the final 0.2 innings and notching a strikeout without allowing a base runner.
 
Evansville wasted no time getting on the board, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead.  Sophomore Jake Mahon started the rally with a one-out single to left and scored on Hockemeyer’s double.  Later in the inning, Day drove in Hockemeyer with a single to double the Aces’ lead.
 
Kennesaw State answered with three runs on four singles in its half of the first, including a two-out, two-run single from Anthony Duran that put the Owls ahead, 3-2, after one complete inning.
 
UE tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third by taking advantage of a KSU error, as sophomore Kyle Pollock reached on a miscue by the Kennesaw State third baseman on what would have resulted in the third out of the inning.  Day made the Owls pay by doubling down the right field line, plating Pollock and tying the score.
 
In the bottom of the inning, KSU once again had an answer for Evansville, as manufactured a run to regain the lead.  Peyton Hart led off the inning with a single to left, before stealing second to put himself into scoring position.  The next Kennesaw State batter grounded out to the right side, advancing Hart to third, before he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Max Pentecost for the eventual game-winning run.
 
Evansville put runners in scoring position in both the fourth and the eighth frames, but could not push across the tying run and James Connell tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the save for the Owls.
 
Hart was the only KSU player to record multiple hits and Duran led the team with two RBI.  Travis Dean (2-2) earned the win for Kennesaw State, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits, while recorded four strikeouts in his 5.0 innings of work.

“We will have Kyle Freeland going for us tomorrow and hopefully we will be able to even this series,” Carroll said.
 
The Aces and Owls will continue the series tomorrow with a 2 p.m. game.  UE will send sophomore Kyle Freeland (2-1, 2.84 ERA) to the mound, while KSU is slated to counter with senior lefty Kevin Kyle (1-2, 4.15 ERA).