KENNESAW, Ga.  –  The University of Evansville baseball team saw their offense break out with 11 runs and six extra base hits on Saturday, but were outslugged by Marshall, dropping to 0-3 with an 18-11 loss. Sunday's scheduled game against Kennesaw State has been canceled due to inclement weather. The Aces will return to action next Friday to open a three-game series against Kentucky at German American Bank Field.
 
Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) capped a strong opening weekend at the plate with two doubles, running his extra-base hit total to three for the weekend. Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored while launching his first home run as an Ace. Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind./North) and Ximi Baftiri (Morris, Ill./Morris) each drove in two runs , with Baftiri adding a double in a two-hit day.
Four Aces - Tanner Graham (Rocheport, Mo./Hickman), Jack Willhite (Georgetown, Ky./Scott County), Conner Vander Luitgaren (Bargersville, Ind./Center Grove) and Cameron Mosier (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) – made their collegiate debuts on the mound. Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) took the loss, while Blaine Albright got the win for Marshall.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Marshall jumped on the Aces from the start, putting up five runs on four hits, including three extra-base hits, in the top of the first. The Aces responded, however, starting with a leadoff double by Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte) before the center fielder came around to score on a wild pitch. With two outs in the inning, Reeder drilled his first big fly of the season to left field, starting a two-out rally. In the next at-bat, McDonnell deposited a double to left field, setting up for Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) to drive him in with a single.

Marshall added to the lead with a double and a single to lead off the second, but Graham entered from the bullpen to limit the damage to one. In the home half, Baftiri drilled the Aces' second consecutive leadoff double and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind./Seymour). Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) also got in on the action, scoring on another Marshall wild pitch to make it a 6-5 game.

Graham kept the deficit at one with a scoreless third inning, and after McConnell contributed Evansville's third consecutive leadoff double, the Aces put runners on the corners with two outs. However, they could not cash in, as a strikeout ended the inning.
The Herd added to their lead in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring a run in each frame. In the bottom of the fifth, Reeder drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and scored on a single by Kirk Weatherford (Clarksville, Tenn./Clarksville) to make it 8-6.

Marshall's offense remained relentless, however, as the Herd added three in the sixth and three in the seventh to break the game open. Evansville responded with a crooked inning of their own in the seventh, scoring three runs, but another three spot by The Herd in the eighth and another run in the ninth put the game out of reach. Nehls and Baftiri drove in runs for Evansville in the bottom of the ninth to make it a seven-run game, with Marshall taking an 18-11 victory.

UP NEXT
Evansville opens their home schedule next weekend by hosting 18^th-ranked Kentucky at German American Bank Field. The series marks the first time in program history that Evansville has hosted an SEC opponent for a three-game set. Friday's series opener will have a 3 PM first pitch.