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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville Purple Aces baseball team (26-19, 8-9) saw their season-high five game winning streak come to an end with a 5-4 defeat to the Southern Illinois Salukis (11-38, 6-12) on Sunday afternoon. UE still wins the series two games to one.
 
After Aces starting pitcher Connor Strain (3-5) yielded four runs in the first, his only inning of work, the Evansville bullpen proceeded to throw 8.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run. The Aces nearly erased a four run deficit against the Salukis.
 
"I thought we dug ourselves a big hole being down 5-0 after the first two innings," said UE head coach Wes Carroll. "We fought our way back into winning time with a chance. The relievers gave us that chance and kept us in the game."
 
SIU catcher Nick Hutchins provided a two-run single in the four run first to help push the Salukis ahead. Southern added an unearned run in the second inning against reliever Brian Jestice for the five run advantage. Reliever Ryan Brady kept UE close with a career-high 3.0 scoreless innings pitched, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced.
 
Trailing by five, the Aces drew closer with three runs in the fifth. First baseman Eric McKibban plated two runs with a single and infielder Jonathan Ramon scored another with a bases loaded walk.
 
Behind 5-3, UE reliever Jimmy Ward threw a scoreless sixth inning, retiring all three hitters he faced. Right-hander Ryan Billo also worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
 
Evansville moved within a run as designated hitter Korbin Williams led off the eighth inning with a single and catcher Billy Lipari scored him on an RBI single. UE would then be unable to score later in the frame or get anyone aboard in the ninth during the one run defeat.
 
Strain is the losing pitcher following his shortest outing of the season. SIU reliever Colin Holderman (2-1) threw the final 4.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits for the win.
 
Kaczmarski was 2-for-4 on Sunday with two doubles. He moved into fourth place in program history with 63 career doubles. Kaczmarski also extended his hitting streak to 19 games and increased his nation-leading batting average to .464. Lipari (two) and infielder Stewart Nelson (three) also tied their career-high in hits.
 
Evansville completes a six game homestand on Wednesday, May 6 when the Purple Aces host UT-Martin. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. CDT at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Ind. Adult tickets are $7 as senior/youth tickets are just $5.
 
For all of the latest information on Evansville baseball, log on to GoPurpleAces.com or follow the team's Twitter account @UEAcesBaseball.