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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Evansville baseball team closed its series at Charlotte with a 4-2 victory over the host 49ers Sunday afternoon at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.  The Purple Aces bullpen combined to allow just one run on three hits over the final five innings to give UE the victory.
 
Junior Boomer Synek finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate and was the only Evansville (19-11) hitter to finish with multiple hits, while four separate Aces each recorded an RBI to combine for UE's four runs.
 
Junior starter Matt Rodgers gave Evansville four solid innings on the mound, as he surrendered just one run on three hits and notched five strikeouts around three walks.  Sophomore Brent Jurceka (2-1) picked up his second won if the year in relief by allowing just one hit in 2.2 innings, before senior Sam Johns notched his seventh save of the season by allowing just one hit over the final 2.0 frames.
 
"It was a great series win for us today, as we were able to piece it together on the mound and got great efforts from multiple guys," head coach Wes Carroll said.  "Offensively, we grinded it out and got ourselves a three-run inning to go ahead, before Sam Johns came on and closed it out."
 
Charlotte (8-21-1) scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the opening frame, as Mikal Hill started a two-out rally with a single to center, before later scoring on Des Roberts' RBI single.
 
The Aces evened the score, 1-1, in the top of the second, when Synek singled through the left side of the infield, advanced to second on a walk to sophomore Jonathan Ramon and moved to third on a walk to sophomore Eric McKibban.  Freshman Devin Williams then plated Synek with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
UE took its first and only lead of the day in the top of the fifth, as Evansville took advantage of a 49er error to mount a three-run, two-out rally.  After the first two Aces of the inning were retired on fly outs to right, junior Jarod Perry kept the inning alive by reaching on a fielder error by the Charlotte third baseman.  Sophomore Josh Jyawook and senior Jake Mahon were able to capitalize on the error by delivering back-to-back RBI doubles that put UE ahead, 3-1.  Junior Kyle Pollock drove home Evansville's final run of the inning with an RBI single through the right side to extend the lead to 4-1.
 
Charlotte responded in its half of the fifth, as Jordan Hudson tripled to lead off the inning, before Aces' reliever Conor Gilligan filled the bases with a pair of walks.  Jurceka then came out of the bullpen and gave up an RBI single, allowing the 49ers to cut UE's lead to 4-2, before he retired the next eight Charlotte hitters he faced.
 
Johns came on in the eighth and allowed just two base runners over the final two innings to nail down the save and give Evansville its third win in four games over the 49ers.
 
"Overall, it was a great weekend for us to come on a long road trip and take three out of four," Carroll said.  "It really sets us up well for a midweek game against Oakland City and most importantly, when we get back into the Missouri Valley Conference when Wichita State comes to Braun Stadium.  I am very excited where this club is at right now and the direction that they are going."
 
The Aces will be back on their home diamond at Braun Stadium Tuesday night, April 8, at 6 p.m., when they host Oakland City.  UE will jump back into MVC play Friday, April 11, when it begins a three-game series with Wichita State at 6 p.m.