EVANSVILLE - Getting an action packed weekend started the right way, the University of Evansville baseball team used exceptional pitching and timely hitting to capture a 4-2 weekend opening victory over UIC on Saturday evening at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

"Great way to start a four-game weekend with a win. We beat a very talented lefty and UIC team," said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. "Finally, we just went out and won a close game with some big at bats and pitches from our bullpen. (Nate) Hardman and (Jakob) Meyer were outstanding following a great performance from Shane Gray as they struckout a talented offensive lineup 15 times. We need to ride this momentum into the doubleheader tomorrow."

The aforementioned pitching effort was key to the Aces victory, beginning with senior Shane Gray's 6.2 innings of work, allowing six hits and two earned runs, while striking-out 10. Juniors Nate Hardman and Jakob Meyer came on in relief to take care of the final 2.1 innings, tallying five combined Ks. The 15 strikeouts from Evansville's staff are the most in a game for the Aces since March 23, 2018, when Alex Weigand, Nathan Croner, and Dalton Horstmeier combined for 15 against Oakland City.

UIC took the lead in the top of the first, generating a single run off of Gray on a pair of hits. Evansville responded in the bottom of the second inning as Eric Roberts and Brendan Hord recorded back-to-back doubles, scoring Roberts on Hord's. The second run scored two batters later as Chase Hug hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Hord and putting the Aces in front.

Evansville added a run to pad its lead, doing so on an RBI double from Mark Shallenberger. The Flames got a run back in the top of the seventh, but showing its timely offense, the Aces got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning, leading 4-2.

The visitors created a couple of opportunities late in the contest, but Meyer slammed the door on the Flames twice, dealing with runners in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth before closing out the contest for his first save of the season in the Aces 4-2 win.

Evansville continues its weekend action on Saturday with a twinbill against Ohio and UIC, beginning with a Noon first pitch in game one at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
 

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