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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The University of Evansville baseball team (0-1) opened  the 2015 regular season with a 6-3 defeat at Arkansas – Little Rock on Friday night at Gary Hogan Field. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Billo threw 5.0 scoreless innings in relief of Aces' starter Connor Strain. Billo, making his first appearance since May 5, 2013 due to injury, also struck out four Trojans in the game.
 
"It was great to play another team and have the first game, but obviously things didn't go our way," said Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "We saw some great things including Ryan Billo coming back after being off an entire year (with injury) and really giving us a great effort on the mound."
 
Second baseman Boomer Synek drove in a pair of runs in the game. Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski and first baseman Eric McKibban each had two hits each.
 
"Offensively, Kevin Kaczmarski had a couple hits but we didn't do some situational hitting," said Carroll. "We had some opportunities but didn't capitalize on offense."
 
The reigning Missouri Valley Conference champions started the season with a run in the top of the first inning. Facing UALR right-hander Cameron Allen, outfielder Jarod Perry led off with a single, moved to third on a base-hit from outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski and scored on an RBI groundout by Synek.
 
Ahead 1-0, UE was unable to hold the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Strain and the Aces surrendered two runs.  
 
Trailing 2-1, Evansville regained the lead in the third. Outfielder Josh Jyawook reached on an error to begin the frame, advanced to third on a single from Kaczmarski and scored on a Synek sacrifice fly to center field. Infielder Shain Showers then doubled home Kaczmarski in the next at-bat to hand UE a 3-2 lead.
 
The advantage was short-lived, however, as UALR answered with four runs in the home half of the third inning. Strain (0-1) pitched 3.0 innings, yielding six runs on seven hits in the defeat.
 
The Aces rallied in the eighth but left two men on base in the eventual three run loss.
 
Due to cold weather in the forecast for Sunday, the teams have agreed to play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m. The two games are both scheduled for nine innings. The Aces have right-handed pitcher Matt Rodgers on the hill in game one and lefty Brodie Harkness on the bump in game two.
 
UE has their first home game at Braun Stadium on Friday, February 27 when they play Oakland as part of a three-game weekend series.