EVANSVILLE, Ind. –  The University of Evansville baseball team won their third straight MVC series on Saturday afternoon, taking down SIU by a score of 7-3 at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium. Evansville extends their winning streak to five games, their longest of the season. The Aces improve to 6-2 in Valley play, sitting in first place in the conference standings.

Evansville scored first, bringing home three in the second, and would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the afternoon. Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, while Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) drove in two to lead the offense.

Tanner Graham (Rocheport, Mo./Hickman) turned in another quality start, striking out seven while allowing only one earned run and three hits over six strong innings. Chris McCormack (Naperville, Ill./Iowa Central CC) picked up the save, working the final three innings, and did not allow a run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Graham started his outing well, putting up zeroes in the first and second innings. Evansville capitalized in the bottom of the second, with McConnell delivering an RBI single and McCue doubling to left center to drive in two more runs.

SIU got a run back in the third, taking advantage of two walks and an error to make it 3-1. The Salukis added another run in the fourth, again capitalizing on an error and two free passes.

Evansville added to their lead in the fifth, with Ximi Baftiri (Morris, Ill./Morris) delivering a 2-out single to drive in Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) to make it 4-2.

SIU made it a 1-run lead once again in the sixth on a leadoff home run, but Graham buckled down and picked up a pair of strikeouts to get through six strong innings. His offense got the run right back in the bottom of the frame, with McConnell leading off the inning with a. double before coming into score on a sac fly by Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte).

McCormack took over on the bump in the seventh inning and was excellent, needing just 10 pitches to put up a zero. In the home half, the Aces came through with more insurance runs, capitalizing on three walks and an HBP to score twice and extend the lead to 7-3.

McCormack shut the door from there, shutting out the Salukis across the final two frames to secure the 7-3 victory and the series win.

UP NEXT
Evansville goes for the sweep tomorrow, hosting Southern Illinois for the series finale. Tip-off is set for 1 PM.