BOX SCORE (PDF)

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team (9-10, 1-2) received a career-high 8.0 innings from freshman pitcher Brodie Harkness in a 3-1 win over #18 Dallas Baptist on Sunday afternoon. Harkness (3-1) yielded just one unearned run on four hits as the Aces earned their first victory over a ranked opponent since winning at #4 Vanderbilt on Feb. 26, 2014.
 
"It was a remarkable outing for Brodie," said Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "He really competed and gave us the lift we needed in the starting rotation."
 
The left-hander pitched around a defensive error in the first with an inning ending double play. He also overcame another defensive error in the second by nabbing the first of two runners caught stealing.
 
Like Harkness, Dallas Baptist right-hander Trevor Conn (2-1) also held UE scoreless until the fifth. Infielder Tyler Sullivan reached on a one-out infield single and outfielder Jarod Perry was then hit by a pitch. Following a fielder's choice, outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski hit a two-run triple to right-center. The triple pushed UE ahead 2-0 and also moved Kaczmarski into sole possession of third place in program history with 15 triples. Moments later, Conn balked, resulting in Kaczmarski coming home with the third run of the game.
 
The advantage was more than enough for Harkness who retired five batters in a row in the middle innings. He also caught another runner trying to steal in the sixth and induced an inning ending double play in the seventh.
 
Dallas Baptist scored their lone run in the eighth inning. Down by three, catcher Daniel Salters led off with a fly ball to right field that was dropped by Perry. Salters moved to second on the play, around to third on a Nash Knight sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Trooper Reynolds. Harkness got the final out of the inning on a Daniel Sweet groundout to go a career-long 8.0 innings.
 
Ahead 3-1 in the ninth, UE turned to reliever Brent Jurceka, who retired all three batters he faced, for the Aces win and his first save of the year. Evansville avoids being swept by Dallas Baptist with the two-run victory on Sunday.
 
Kaczmarski totaled two hits on the afternoon, bringing his team-high batting average to .404. Perry's hit by pitch in the fifth inning gives him 15 this season, most in the nation. The next hit by pitch for Perry will tie Alex Acheson (2007-10) for most in program history with 41. Perry has also reached base safely in 20 straight games. First baseman Eric McKibban finished 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to seven consecutive games.
 
Evansville's next game will be Wednesday, March 25 at SIUE at 6:00 p.m. The next home game for the Purple Aces is Tuesday, April 7 against UT-Martin. The game will be held at Braun Stadium and begin at 6:00 p.m. Tickets to the game are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors/children.