Craig ties home run record as Aces drop series finale to SIU

EVANSVILLE – University of Evansville baseball first baseman Tanner Craig tied the late Jeff Starks for the program’s career home run record on an afternoon where the Aces were unable to hold an early lead in a 14-5 loss to SIU on Sunday at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“We weren’t good enough this weekend to win a series in every aspect of the game,” said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. “SIU put together big innings to get out in front of us and then to put us away. Offensively we did a great job getting out in front and had a good plan against their starter. Just didn’t have an answer at the plate for McDaniel who did an outstanding job. We will need some guys to step up on our pitching staff the second half of the season to be competitive in Valley play.”

Evansville’s early offense was efficient and showcased its power as the Aces took an early 4-0 advantage after the first two innings. An RBI single from Simon Scherry in the first earned the early lead for Evansville and it was Craig’s second-inning blast that helped open up the lead. On a 3-2 count with two outs and on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Craig lifted a ball 422 feet and over the scoreboard, bouncing off the nearly all the way up the netting, plating three runs and giving the senior his 40th career homer.

The Aces and Salukis traded runs in the fourth with UE maintaining its four-run advantage. The top of the fifth inning proved to be the decider in the series finale as the Salukis scored six runs, taking a 7-5 lead. On the mound in relief for SIU, Trey McDaniel pitched five scoreless innings for the Salukis, helping hold onto the lead. SIU would add seven more runs over the course of the remaining four innings, securing the 14-5 win.

Evansville returns to action on the road with a Tuesday trip to Butler for a 3 PM (CT) first pitch in Indianapolis.