EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Evansville baseball team got the jump on Southern Illinois early, but a Saluki rally sent the Purple Aces to the wrong end of a 9-4 loss in the finale of their Missouri Valley Conference weekend series Sunday afternoon at Braun Stadium.

"Another unfortunate loss, here at home in Valley play," said University of Evansville head coach Wes Carroll. "It seems like every walk and every error really hurts us and we can't overcome all the little mistakes that we make. Offensively, we're just not getting enough of it to apply pressure to get the runs necessary. 

Carroll sent out Jace Burke, who pitched in the ninth inning of Saturday's 5-4 loss, to start against the Salukis. The freshman right hander got touched up for a run in the opening frame, but struck Hunter Anderson to prevent anymore damage.

In the bottom of the frame, the Evansville bats responded. Senior third baseman Stewart Nelson led off the inning with a single, then senior right fielder Dalton Horstmeier delivered a one out double down the left field line, putting a pair in scoring position. Sophomore center fielder Kenton Crews would drive in Nelson with a ground out to the shortstop, knotting the game up. Senior catcher Andrew Tanous delivered a clutch two out RBI single to right-center, bringing in Horstmeier for the go-ahead tally, making it 2-1 Aces.

That's the way the game would stay for the next three innings, as Burke and SIU starter Bradley Harrison traded goose eggs. However, in the fifth, the Salukis got to Burke. Alex Lyon drilled a bases loaded bases-clearing 3-run double, ending Burke's day. Sophomore David Ellis came in in relief, and Logan Blackfan tagged him for a solo home run to left, and when the smoke cleared Southern Illinois led 6-2.

"What's hurt us all year has been ratios," said Carroll. "If you look at hits to runs scored from our opponents and our's, it's vastly different ratios." 

Down 8-2 in the eighth inning, UE attempted a late rally. After putting a pair in scoring position, Evansville's Andrew Tanous hit a sharp shot to the shortstop, and the ensuing throwing error allowed Dalton Horstmeier to score. Later in the inning, t???he Aces would load up the bases, then junior left fielder Nate Reeder drew a walk, bringing in Kenton Crews to cross home plate, cutting the deficit to 8-4.

However, that's as close as the Aces would get, as SIU would tack on one more in the finale frame, and goes onto win 9-4.

The loss drops Evansville to 7-30 on the season and 1-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Southern Illinois improves to 24-20 and 7-5 in the MVC.

The Aces will be back in action Wednesday night against Belmont. First pitch from Charles H. Braun Stadium is at 6 p.m.        

"For us, it's a busy week," said Carroll. "We're going into finals. Hopefully the guys are ready compete in the classroom, then get ready to compete on Wednesday, then get on a flight to Dallas. So big week ahead for Aces Baseball."

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