EVANSVILLE – Korbin Williams hit his third home run in two days and two of his teammates would also leave the park, but the University of Evansville baseball team was otherwise unable to score as the Purple Aces dropped a 4-3 decision to Bradley at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
"We were trying to play catch-up from the very start today, and we just couldn't get past their starter," UE head coach Wes Carroll said. "He did an absolutely fantastic job. We didn't really get anything going until the last inning, and then we couldn't deliver the big hit. We have to be ready tomorrow, and it will be a big opportunity for us in the grand scheme of things. It's a chance to win a second series in Missouri Valley play, and that could be pivotal for us."
Williams, who hit a walk-off homer in Friday's win over the Braves, found himself in a similar position Saturday. The Newburgh native had already opened the Aces (19-14, 3-2 MVC) scoring with a second-inning blast, and he represented the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth once again. He would make contact once again, as BU shortstop Tyler Leffler dropped a pop fly to put two runners on for UE, but Braves closer Nathan Stong bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and hand UE its first loss in five games.
UE starting pitcher Brandon Gomer was pegged with the loss after allowing all four runs over the game's opening five innings. He gave up four hits and struck out four in the contest while dropping to 1-4 on the season.
Meanwhile, his BU (16-13, 2-2 MVC) counterpart, Cameron Roegner tossed 8.1 innings while allowing six hits without issuing a walk. He moved to 4-3 on the season.
After pushing three runs across in the first frame, Williams cut the deficit to two with his homer, but the Braves responded immediately by scratching across a score in the third to make in 4-1.
Billy Lipari and Trey Hair would follow in the fifth and sixth, respectively, with solo round-trippers, but that would be it for UE as the team finished the game with six hits.
The Aces will return to action on Sunday with a rubber game against BU, and first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
NOTES: Korbin Williams is the second Ace in a week to homer in back-to-back games … Boomer Synek left the park in both last Sunday's contest with Wichita State and Tuesday's victory over Murray State … UE has hit 37 homers this season, which is the most for any Aces squad since 2010, which was the last season played with the old NCAA bat standards … Since 1978, UE is 50-38 against Bradley … The Aces are also 222-198 vs. Illinois schools over that time span, including 5-2 this season … Last season, the Braves picked up the first two wins in Peoria before the Aces left town with a 10-0 seven inning win on the final day … In 2014, the last time BU paid a visit to Evansville, the Aces won all three games by a combined 22-8 score.
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