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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team (26-18, 8-9) charged back from three deficits on Saturday to defeat Southern Illinois (10-38, 5-12) by a score of 6-5 on Saturday afternoon. Purple Aces closer Brent Jurceka (3-2) recorded a five out save on Friday night and threw the final 2.1 scoreless innings on Saturday to help Evansville achieve a season-best five game winning streak.
 
"Playing a lot of one run games this season gave us a lot of confidence," said UE head coach Wes Carroll. "Jurceka is our go-to guy and he stepped up to give us a great effort last night and today."
 
After both teams scored a run in the first, UE pulled ahead in the third when outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski worked a two out walk and scored on a double from infielder Jonathan Ramon.
 
Evansville's starter Matt Rodgers retired 10 of 11 consecutive hitters entering the fifth. SIU's Greg Lambert created a 2-2 tie later in the frame with an RBI single.
 
The Salukis pulled ahead in the sixth on a wild pitch.
 
Down by one, UE tied the game in the sixth on a Tyler Sullivan single and went ahead on a Jarod Perry RBI base hit to center.
 
Trailing 4-3, the Salukis regained the lead of the see-saw affair in the seventh. With reliever Patrick Schnieders on the mound, SIU was able to load the bases and Blackfan brought two home with a double to right field.
 
Trailing by a run, Evansville deadlocked the game at five with an eighth inning RBI single from Perry. Ramon added a sac fly later in the at-bat for the Aces 6-5 lead. Jurceka then proceeded to load the bases in the ninth before inducing a groundout of pinch hitter Jake Hand to secure the win.
 
Rodgers threw 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits in the no decision. The win goes to Jurceka who walked two and gave up one hit but did not allow a run. The loss is tagged to Salukis righty Ryan Netemeyer (1-4) who yielded two runs in as many innings.
 
Perry ended the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. He has reached base safely in 45 straight games. Kaczmarski went 2-for-3, extending his hitting streak to 18 games and building his nation-leading batting average to .463. Ramon was also 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
 
The Aces go for a sweep on Sunday in the series finale at Braun Stadium. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. CDT. Game two adult tickets are $7 as senior/youth tickets are just $5.
 
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