The University of Evansville baseball team had early scoring chances, but couldn’t cash in. However, Southern Illinois took advantage of nearly every scoring opportunity, as the Aces dropped a second straight to SIU Saturday evening, 5-2.
Junior left-hander Nathan Croner (5-6) got the start for UE, and started out strong, tossing a perfect opening frame. However, in the second, the Salukis would touch him up for a pair of runs in the second as Philip Archer singled in one run, then J.T. Weber brought in another on a sacrifice fly to center, putting the Aces down 2-0.
Evansville had a golden opportunity to knot the game up in the fourth, as a leadoff single by senior designated hitter Nate Reeder and a double off the bat of sophomore first baseman Tanner Craig put the tying runs in scoring position with no outs. However, the Aces would go down in order from there, keeping it 2-0 SIU.
In the bottom of the frame, Southern Illinois would add to their pad, hanging three more runs on the scoreboard at Croner’s expense, but the Independence, Missouri native would stick around to close out the inning, with the Salukis leading 5-0. Croner would come out to get the first out in the fifth inning, then turn the game over freshman right-hander Shane Gray. For the day, Croner gave up five runs on five hits, while striking out four.
Gray would keep SIU off the scoreboard the rest of the way, tossing 3 2/3 innings of shutout work, allowing just one hit, while striking out three.
Evansville would finally break through at the plate, with a pair in scoring position, as freshman pinch hitter Eric Roberts came off the bench to rope a single to right, driving in both Craig Shepherd and Tanner Craig, cutting the deficit to three.
However, that would be the only offense the Aces could muster, as they went quietly in the ninth.
The loss drops Evansville to 21-21 overall, with an 8-6 Missouri Valley Conference record. The win improves Southern Illinois’ overall mark to 21-22 and 3-11 in MVC play.
