Box Score (PDF)

WICHITA, Kan – The University of Evansville Purple Aces baseball team (27-20, 8-11) received another four hit game from outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski, but the Purple Aces lost 4-3 to the Wichita State Shockers (19-29, 7-9) on a walk off home run in the ninth inning on Friday night.
 
"We didn't play good baseball," said UE head coach Wes Carroll. "When you give away runs defensively on Friday night, it is challenging. We also had five runners left on base in the first four innings and couldn't get the big hit."
 
Evansville took the lead in the third inning. Kaczmarski reached on a two-out single and scored when infielder Jonathan Ramon hit an RBI triple off the center field wall.
 
Down 1-0, Wichita State rallied back to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. Keenan Eaton reached on a one out single, and scored later in the inning on a single and throwing error from infielder Shain Showers.
 
Tied at one run apiece, the Shockers went ahead with two more runs in the sixth on an RBI groundout from Gunner Troutwine and a throwing error from Ramon.
 
Trailing 3-1, Evansville evened up the score in the seventh. Showers and outfielder Jarod Perry both got on base with singles and each hitter scored on a Kaczmarski double down the first base line. The double was the 64^th of his UE career, tying Greg Wallace (2008-2011) for third most in program history.
 
The game stayed even at three until the bottom of the ninth when outfielder Mikel Mucha hit a walk-off home run to right field for the game one victory.
 
Aces starter Brodie Harkness did not factor into the decision. He pitched 6.1 innings, yielding three runs (one earned) on six hits. He did not walk a batter and also struck out three. The loss goes to reliever Conor Gilligan (1-1) who retired all seven hitters he faced before the final at bat. It was the first run given up by Gilligan, earned or unearned, since Mar. 14 at Ohio State.
 
Kaczmarski extended his hitting streak to21 straight games and leads the nation with a .479 batting average. Perry, who was 1-for-5 with a run scored, also moved his on-base streak to 48 games. Catcher Billy Lipari and outfielder Korbin Williams totaled two hits each in the contest. The Purple Aces left nine runners on base in the defeat.
 
Game two of the series is set for Saturday, May 9 at 2:00 p.m. CDT. The Aces' next home game is Thursday, May 14 against Austin Peay at 6:00 p.m. 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.