Box Score (PDF)

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team (8-8) tied a season-high in hits during a 15-2 victory against the visiting Murray State Racers (6-15) on Wednesday night. After playing 15 consecutive road games to begin the season, the Aces had eight starters tally at least one hit each in the victory.
 
"It was great to be back home at Braun Stadium," said Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "It was good to come out here, get our first win and get our offense going."
 
Both outfielder Josh Jyawook and first baseman Eric McKibban finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski also notched two hits including his 14^th career triple, tied for third most in program history.
 
UE was down 1-0 after the top of the third but rallied to score the next nine runs of the game.
 
The Aces plated two runs in the third, tying and taking the lead on a two-run single from Jyawook. Next, Evansville scored seven runs in the fourth as the team sent 13 total hitters to the plate. Outfielder Jarod Perry, Kaczmarski, McKibban, and catcher Billy Lipari each had run producing hits in the inning as Evansville leapt ahead 9-1.
 
The lead was more than enough for starting pitcher Ryan Billo (1-1), who pitched a season-high 6.0 innings, yielding just one run on three hits for his first victory of the season. The right-hander retired five batters in a row on two separate occasions.
 
After Murray State scored a run in the seventh, UE ended the night with a six-run eighth inning. Infielder Tyler Sullivan recorded his first career-hit, an RBI single, in the frame.
 
The 13 run win ties the largest margin of victory for the Aces this season (16-3 win at UALR on Feb. 14).
 
Perry was hit by two more pitches on Wednesday, adding to his nation-leading total of 14 this year.
 
UE begins the Missouri Valley Conference portion of their schedule this weekend when #18 Dallas Baptist visits Evansville (Baseball America).
 
"Going into Valley play, it is important that our pitchers come out and give us a chance this weekend. They did a good job today," added Carroll. "I am really excited for our club on Friday night under the lights…hopefully we can get off to a good start in the Valley."
 
First pitch on Friday, March 20 is set for 6:00 p.m. The contest on Saturday, March 21 will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday, March 22 is 1:00 p.m. All three games will be held at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Ind.