Box score (Printable)

EMERSON, Ga. – The University of Evansville baseball team (2-2) dropped the series opener against Western Kentucky 5-3 on Saturday night. Game two of the evening was postponed due to rain, creating a Sunday doubleheader set to begin at 2:00 p.m. CT.
 
Aces right-hander Connor Strain logged his first quality start of the season, going 6.0 innings, yielding three runs (two earned) in the no decision. Strain retired 11 batters in a row at one point and induced 13 ground ball outs on the evening.
 
"Unfortunately, we spoiled a quality start from Connor Strain," said Evansville head baseball coach Wes Carroll. "That's what happens when you leave 12 runners on base and strike out 10 times as an offensive unit."
 
Western Kentucky (2-1) took the early lead in the first inning. After Evansville stranded a pair of runners in the top of the inning, the Hilltoppers would push across the go-ahead run in the bottom half on a pair of UE errors.  Down 1-0, the Aces nearly re-gained the lead in the second. UE loaded the bases with one out but right-hander Josh Bartley got outfielder Josh Jyawook to lineout and shortstop Shain Showers to strike out to end the threat.
 
Strain then kept the deficit at one after leaving a pair of runners on base in the second.
 
Both pitchers then settled into a groove as Bartley made eight straight outs and Strain retired 11 hitters in a row. UE stopped Bartley's streak and the 1-0 deficit when outfielder Jarod Perry led off the fifth inning with a single and scored the tying run a few batters later on a wild pitch. The Aces nearly went ahead but Bartley got a fielder's choice groundout from infielder Jonathan Ramon to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. Strain's streak of 11 straight outs also came to an end with a leadoff walk to outfielder Anderson Miller in the sixth. Miller moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from first baseman Ryan Church and scored on a home run from designated hitter Phillip Diedrick.
 
Down 3-1, Evansville tied the game in the seventh on a pair of wild pitches from reliever Kevin Elder. Once again, UE almost took the lead but reliever Tate Glasscock struck out Perry to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the inning, right-hander Brent Jurceka would relieve Strain. Catcher Ryan Messex began the inning with a single and scored a few batters later on a two-run home run from Miller.
 
Trailing 5-3, Evansville was unable to get any base runners over the final two innings as WKU claimed the series opening victory.
 
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski and Perry each had two hits and one run scored in the game.
 
Evansville has their first home game at Braun Stadium on Friday, February 27 when they play Oakland as part of a three-game weekend series.