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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Freshman left-hander Brodie Harkness matched his career-high with 8.0 innings pitched on Sunday, but the University of Evansville baseball team (16-15, 5-7) dropped the series finale 2-0 to the #20 Missouri State Bears. Harkness allowed just two runs on nine hits while not walking a single batter and recording three strikeouts.
 
"Brodie had a heck of a game," said Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "He kept Missouri State off balance and had another great developmental start for him and our program. I am really proud of his overall effort."
 
Harkness worked around a first inning jam but encountered more trouble in the second. Infielder Aaron Meyer led off the frame with a bloop single to left-center field and catcher Eduardo Castro followed with a two-run home run down the left field line. The home run for Castro was his second of the season and resulted in the only runs of the game.
 
Down 2-0, UE rallied in the bottom of the inning against Missouri State starter Jordan Knutson. The Aces had runners at first and second with one out but the left-hander struck out catcher Billy Lipari and induced infielder Stewart Nelson to an inning ending groundout.
 
After allowing the home run, Harkness retired 10 straight Bears batters, keeping the UE offense within two runs. Harkness' double digit out streak was snapped in the fifth with back to back hits but he got a lineout and fly out to end the frame. Harkness also left two more men on base in the sixth inning as well.
 
Knutson followed suit, leaving a runner on in each of the third and fourth innings while also setting down six hitters in a row.
 
Still trailing by two, UE brought the tying run to the plate a few times in the late innings. Infielder Shain Showers earned a two-out walk in the sixth but was thrown out trying to steal second. Outfielder Josh Jyawook also tallied a two-out single in the eighth but back to back outs sent the game to the ninth.
 
Reliever Conor Gilligan pitched around a two-out single in the top of the ninth to keep the deficit at two runs. Missouri State closer Bryan Young however retired all three hitters he faced in the bottom half to secure the Bears a road sweep at Evansville.
 
Harkness (4-2) takes the loss, despite allowing two runs in 8.0 innings. Jyawook extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 1-for-4 day. Outfielder Jarod Perry was also 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to eight consecutive games. Perry has now reached base in 32 straight contests.
 
The Aces end a five game homestand on Tuesday, April 14 when they host SIUE at 1:00 p.m. at Braun Stadium. Adult tickets are $7 each as senior/youth tickets are just $5.