BOX SCORE (PDF)

NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team (14-11, 4-3) rallied back from a five run deficit to defeat the Illinois State Redbirds 8-6 on the road on Friday night. Trailing 6-1, UE scored the final seven runs of the game, including two in the ninth, for the series opening win.
 
"That was a huge win for us," said Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "What an exciting night at the yard! Down 6-1 early on a Friday night, it is all about momentum. They had it. And our guys really dug deep. I am really proud of our club." 
 
Staked to a 1-0 lead, UE starter Connor Strain surrendered two runs in the bottom of the first and four more in the third as Illinois State took their first lead. Down by five, UE began chipping away at the deficit with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Outfielder Jarod Perry led off the fifth with a double and scored later in the frame on a Will Headean wild pitch. Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski also singled in the inning and was brought home on an Eric McKibban sacrifice fly, making the score 6-4.
 
Strain kept Illinois State from scoring any more runs in the fourth or fifth innings, inducing four double plays in the first five innings. Reliever Matt Rodgers then entered the game in the sixth to work around a two on, two-out jam and leave the bases loaded.
 
Trailing 6-4, outfielder Josh Jyawook led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to right field, his second of the season. Perry then worked a walk and scored the tying run on a sequence of passed ball, wild pitch, and another passed ball. Kaczmarski who also walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was left there as reliever Steve Heilenbach struck out the next three hitters.
 
Tied at six, Rodgers left two men on in the seventh and two more on in the eighth to get the UE offense back to the plate. Jyawook began the ninth with a walk, and after a pair of outs, advanced to second on a walk to infielder Jonathan Ramon. With two on and two outs, McKibban then lifted a ball to right-center that dropped in for a hit, scoring Jyawook and pushing UE ahead 7-6. Ramon scored later in the inning on a passed ball for the two run cushion.
 
Leading 8-6, UE closer Brent Jurceka entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, worked around a one-out walk to retire the last two hitters of the night.
 
Rodgers (4-0) received the win, going 2.1 scoreless innings. Strain threw 5.2 innings, yielding a season-high six runs in the no decision. McKibban tied a season-high with three RBIs. Perry matched his career-high with three runs scored and also stretched his on-base streak to 26 games. Kaczmarski recorded another two hits, bringing his team-best batting average to .452 . UE has now won a season-high four games in a row.
 
The teams will continue the three-game weekend series on Saturday, April 4. First pitch at Duffy Bass Field is set for 2:00 p.m. CDT. The next home game for the Purple Aces will also be against UT-Martin on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m.