HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The University of Evansville baseball team saw another big offensive night go all for naught on Friday evening as the Aces surrendered five runs in the bottom of the eighth to fall 14-10 at Conference USA power Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park.

"It was another tough Friday night loss for us," UE head coach Wes Carroll said. "We didn't get a quality start, but our bats once again gave us a chance and kept us in the game. We didn't take enough care of the ball defensively or on the mound to get a win. For us to get back in the win column, we're going to need to clean that up."

The Aces (1-4) actually led on three occasions and took 10-9 lead into the eighth, but Hunter Slater wasted little time in leveling the affair for the Golden Eagles (4-1), blasting a solo shot to left center to lead off the frame. UE reliever Blake Swanger would give up a single and record an out before being relieved by Hunter Porterfield.

Porterfield, a junior college transfer out of Johnstown, Colo., issued three walks before giving up singles to Dylan Bordeaux and Mason Irby to plate three more scores.

Swanger (0-1) was credited with the loss in the game, while USM's Matt Wallner earned his first win of the season after allowing just one hit over two innings of work.

UE started off the contest in strong fashion, as doubles from Stewart Nelson and Andrew Tanous gave the Aces a 1-0 lead in the first. However, UE starter Connor Strain would issue a pair of walks and a single to load the bases in the ensuing half-inning before inadvertently hitting USM batter Daniel Keating to even things back up. The Shelburn, Ind., native would work out of the bases-loaded jam, registering a strikeout and inducing a groundball to end the frame. 

It was UE's turn to load the bases in the second, and Travis Tokarek cleared them with his first career grand slam to put the Aces on top 5-1. Unfortunately for UE, it would be wiped out once again as three hits and a pair of errors allowed six more Golden Eagles to touch home in bottom half.

Both teams would score a pair of runs n the third before a Kenton Crews single and Stewart Nelson fielder's choice plated a pair in the fifth to tie things up at 9-9. An inning later, Trey Hair reached on an error, and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Korbin Williams followed up with a single to put UE ahead one last time.

Five players enjoyed multi-hit days for the Aces, led by Nate Reeder, who went 3-for-4 with a trio of runs scored. Nelson, Hair, Tanous and Crews each ended with two hits. Jimmy Day was 1-for-3 with three scores.

Meanwhile, Irby led the way for the Golden Eagles, going 4-for-5 with three runs batted in. Slater was 3-for-5, scoring three times and knocking in three more.

The Aces will return to action at Pete Taylor Park on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
 

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