BOX SCORE (PDF)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Evansville baseball team (7-6) scored six runs in the seventh inning and held off an Ohio State late rally to beat the Buckeyes 10-9 on Saturday afternoon. Five Purple Aces batters tallied multi-hit games for Evansville. Starting pitcher Connor Strain (1-1) threw his third straight quality start to secure his first victory of the season.
 
Tied at three, Evansville batted around in the top of the seventh inning, scoring six times and taking a 9-3 lead. Ohio State committed two errors in the frame as Evansville sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning. UE also had to withstand a five run bottom of the seventh inning from Ohio State and a Buckeyes ninth inning rally for the UE victory.
 
"It was a good win to open up the series," said Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "It was great to get some offensive production for Connor Strain, who's thrown well enough now in almost all of his starts, to get some runs and get him his first win."
 
Down by one, infielder Jonathan Ramon tied the game with a leadoff home run in the second inning. It was the second home run of the season for Ramon and one of his three runs scored on the day. Even at one, UE pushed further ahead with a two-run fourth inning. Infielder Boomer Synek walked to begin the inning and Ramon followed with a single to left field. Both men moved up on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Max Foley. Synek scored on an Eric McKibban groundout to short, giving UE the 2-1 lead. The Aces added to the advantage later in the inning on a single to center field from catcher Billy Lipari.
 
Trailing 3-1, Ohio State tacked on a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie up the score. Strain yielded just three runs on six hits in his 6.0 innings of work. Facing a possible no decision, Strain's offense broke the 3-3 game open with a six run seventh. Outfielder Korbin Williams hit a leadoff single, was moved to second on a bunt from Perry and around to third on a throwing error. Following a pitching change, Williams scored on a wild pitch, outfielder Josh #Jyawook# added another single and a Synek walk loaded up the bases. Two runners then scored on an Ohio State throwing error for the 6-3 lead. Foley, and McKibban each hit RBI singles later in the inning and a bases loaded hit by pitch handed UE a 9-3 edge.
 
Down by six, Ohio State stormed back with a five run bottom of the seventh. The Buckeyes only received two hits in the inning as Ohio State rallied back to within a run. Leading 9-8, the Aces padded their lead by scoring a run on a double play in the eighth and the Buckeyes responded with another run in the bottom of the inning. Losing 10-9, Ohio State got the tying and would be game-winning runners on base in the ninth but reliever Patrick Scnieders struck out Ryan Leffel to end the game.
 
Perry finished 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot for the Aces. Ramon also tallied two hits.
 
The Aces and Buckeyes will complete the three-game weekend series on Sunday, March 15 with a doubleheader beginning at 11:05 a.m. CDT.