EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team fell in a slugfest on Friday evening, falling to the Murray State Racers by a score of 15-10 at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
Murray State got out to 10-0 lead in the fifth, but the Aces scored three runs in the fifth and seven in the sixth to make it a one-run game. However, a 3-run ninth helped the Racers pull away for the win.
Ryan Seddon (Joliet, Ill./St. Laurence) had a big game at the plate for the Aces, going 2-for-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Evansville starter Tanner Graham (Rocheport, Mo./Hickman) worked around trouble early, stranding a leadoff double in the first before escaping a bases loaded jam in the second. However, the Racers got to Graham in the third, plating five runs on five hits.
In the top of the fifth, Murray State put up another big inning, scoring five runs on five hits once again to take a 10-0 lead.
Evansville finally broke through offensively in the bottom of the fifth, with Cooper Rhodes (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) putting a two-out double down the right field line for the Aces' first baserunner of the night. From there, Ximi Baftiri (Morris, Ill./Morris) picked up an RBI single before Seddon launched a no doubt two-run homer to right to make it 10-3.
Murray State answered back with a run in the top of the sixth, but Evansville had more in store in the home half of the inning. With one out in the inning, Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte), Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) and Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) ripped three consecutive singles to plate a run. After a piar of walks scored another run and forced a pitching change, Seddon ripped a double to right field to score two and cut the deficit to four.
Following another pitching change, Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind./North) came off the bench for a pitch hit opportunity and took advantage, lining a single to left field to score another run. After another walk, Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) lifted a sac fly to the outfield to plate Seddon. Finally, McConnell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the seventh run of the inning, the most by the Aces in an inning this year.
Murray State responded with a run in the seventh, going back up by two. The teams traded zeroes until the ninth, when a three-run home run gave Murray State some breathing room before shutting the door in the bottom of the ninth to secure a 15-10 win and even the series.
UP NEXT
Evansville and Murray State wrap up the regular season tomorrow afternoon, while the Aces will celebrate Senior Day by honoring six student-athletes playing their final season at the University of Evansville. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
