PEORIA, Ill. - On a night that saw flashes of the best of the Aces in all three facets, the University of Evansville baseball team captured a 5-3 series-opening victory over Bradley on Friday night at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.

The win was the Aces eighth-straight victory, matching the eight consecutive victories Evansville earned around the same point in time during the 2019 campaign.

"Great opening win to the series. Shane Gray was outstanding tonight making some big pitches," said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. "Our offense came through as we had many quality trips to the dish for two runs in the 9th. That collection of quality at bats was truly special to see."

Shining on the mound, sophomore righty Shane Gray made the start for the Aces, finishing with seven innings pitched, allowing just one run and striking-out a career-best 11 batters. Earning the win on the night was freshman Jakob Meyer, who entered with one gone in the eighth and shut down the Bradley effort in the ninth. Meyer concluded his outing having lasted 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and striking-out three.

Evansville pushed a run across in the third to open the scoring as freshman Simon Scherry drove a single through the left side, scoring senior Ben Komonsoky. In the next inning, the Aces scored another as junior Tanner Craig smashed a solo home run on the first pitch of the inning, clearing the left field wall and lifting Evansville's lead to 2-0.

Gray got out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth as the Braves loaded the bases with one out. The West Hamilton, Ohio native locked-in over the next nine pitches, striking-out Husmann on three pitches and then ending the inning with a backwards K of Keaton Rice.

A sacrifice bunt in the fifth helped Bradley have the lead, but Evansville again saw Gray come up with clutch pitches in important situations.

Evansville pushed its lead back to two in the seventh as redshirt junior Kenton Crews looped a triple into left center field, scoring freshman Brent Widder.

After Gray exited, the Aces looked to continue to limit the Braves. Bradley mounted a comeback though, scoring twice in the eighth, tying the game as it moved to the ninth.

As has been true for much of the season, Evansville's offense responded when it was needed in the ninth. A leadoff single by pinch hitter Eric Roberts helped spark the Aces offense. Widder responded by laying down a sac bunt to advance Roberts. After Crews was intentionally walked, redshirt senior Troy Beilsmith reached on a fielder's choice that gave Evansville runners on the corners. Beilsmith advanced to second on catcher's indifference and that proved key for the Aces. Freshman Simon Scherry delivered what would be the game-winning hit, ripping a single through the right side that scored Roberts and Beilsmith, handing the Aces a 5-3 lead with three outs remaining.

Meyer returned back to the mound in the ninth and following a leadoff walk, the Columbus, Ind. native did what he has all season. In the next two at-bats, Meyer induced swinging strikeouts, giving the Braves a runner on first with two outs. Down to their last out, the Braves sent Vogel to the plate, who looked to have delivered a base-hit to center, but was robbed by Widder, who soared into the air, grabbing the ball and ending the game with a 5-3 Evansville win.

Evansville and Bradley continue their four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 PM at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.
 

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