Senior strikes-out 10 in six innings to earn win
In its first game in Evansville this season, the University of Evansville baseball team secured an 8-3 victory over Butler at Bosse Field on Friday afternoon.
“Really proud of Nathan Croner’s start. He really competed,” said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. “Obviously, from an offensive standpoint, we were aggressive with the barrel today and got 16 hits and put ourselves in a good position in winning time to win the ball game. Its great to get our first win and to get a crooked number in the win column is always a good thing to build off of.”
Senior Nathan Croner’s impressive outing began fast in the top of the first inning, as Croner retired the side and struck-out a pair. In the Aces half of the first, senior Craig Shepherd opened the inning with a base hit to center field. Two batters later, junior Tanner Craig singled up the middle, scoring Shepherd to give Evansville a 1-0 lead.
Croner faced the minimum in the second inning, striking out two more to tame the Bulldogs. Evansville’s offense continued to roll, scoring two more runs as Shepherd and Wilkes each tallied an RBI single.
Evansville added two more runs with one in the fifth and one in the sixth as the Aces lead grew to 5-1 heading into the sixth.
The two sides each scored a run in the seventh as Evansville’s advantage sat at four runs through seven innings. After Butler got back within three runs with a run in the top of the eighth, it was again the Aces turn to answer.
The Aces got back-to-back hits to open the bottom of the eighth, but then saw two-straight batters go down via strike-out. With runners on the corners, Mason Brinkley earned a walk, loading the bases. Following Brinkley’s walk, Troy Beilsmith earned a walk, pushing a run across and giving Evansville an 8-3 lead.
Evansville ended the game in style in the top of ninth as David Ellis induced a fly out to open the inning. After walking a batter, Ellis forced a double play, earning Evansville’s first win of the season.
The Aces return to action with the middle game of a three-game set at Noon on Sunday at Bosse Field.
