Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
Photo Gallery

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team (11-11, 2-3) split a doubleheader at Indiana State on Saturday, falling 4-0 in the opening game but winning the final contest 7-3.
 
After dropping the first game of the doubleheader and trailing 3-1 in the second game, Evansville scored six runs over the final three innings to set up a series deciding Sunday afternoon game.
 
"We were finally able to break through with some quality at-bats," said UE head coach Wes Carroll. "Overall with runners in scoring position, we were finally able to barrel the ball up and that was key (to our late scoring)."
 
Trailing by a pair of runs in the seventh inning of game two, the Purple Aces capitalized on three Indiana State errors to take a 4-3 lead. Back to back errors from Sycamore third baseman Andy Young put the tying runs on base. UE pulled within a run on another fielding error from shortstop Tyler Friis and tied the game on a fielder's choice from outfielder Jarod Perry. Even at three, outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski then broke the scoreless tie with an RBI infield single in the seventh and extended the lead with a three-run home run in the ninth inning. Right-hander Patrick Schnieders (2-3) threw a career-high 6.0 innings for the victory, yielding just three runs (two earned). He retired the last seven batters he faced. Reliever Matt Rodgers threw the final 3.0 innings, allowing just one bunt single, for his first save of the season.
 
The win tied up the series after UE was defeated in the first game. Indiana State went ahead 1-0 in that contest after a second inning RBI single from Landon Curry. Evansville nearly tied the game in the fourth but Sycamores left-hander Jeff Degano worked around a two-on, one-out jam with back to back strikeouts. Aces starter Connor Strain kept the game 1-0 until the eighth. The first two batters reached on singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Reliever Ryan Brady then entered the game, but a hit by pitch to Young and a bases-clearing double for Jacob Hayes made it 4-0 Indiana State. Strain (1-3) takes the loss despite allowing just three runs on five hits in 7.1 innings. He retired five batters in a row early in the contest and 12 of 13 consecutive batters in the middle of the game. Strain struck out six hitters, a new season-high and one short of his career high (vs. Eastern Kentucky, 3/29/14).
 
Perry reached base in both games, extending his on-base streak to 23 straight. Kaczmarski was 3-for-5 in the final game of the doubleheader with two runs, a home run and four runs batted in.
 
The final game of the series will take place on Sunday, March 29 with an 11:00 a.m. CT start time at Sycamore Stadium. Left-hander and MVC Pitcher of the Week Brodie Harkness (3-1, 4.02 ERA) will take the ball for UE. He will be opposed by fellow southpaw David Stagg (0-2, 6.92).
 
The next home game for the Purple Aces is Tuesday, April 7 against UT-Martin.