Aces attempt to battle back from eight second-inning runs in series opener
EVANSVILLE – Tasked with overcoming eight early runs, the University of Evansville baseball team methodically battled back, but could not overcome the early scoring from Indiana State in a 14-7 series-opening loss on Thursday night at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
“We weren’t very competitive on the mound throughout this contest,” said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. “Giving up an 8 spot with the potential MVC Pitcher of the Year on the mound was too big of a hole to climb out of. We need to show some competitive fight over the next three games of the series in all aspects of the game.”
After Evansville put two on the board in the bottom of the first inning, Indiana State notched eight runs in the top of the second, taking an 8-2 lead. The Sycamores eight-run second chased Aces starter Shane Gray as senior Nathan Croner came on in relief in the second. Croner pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one earned run and striking-out a pair to hold Indiana State within striking distance at 9-2.
Evansville chipped away in the fourth and sixth innings with solo home runs from Tanner Craig and Troy Beilsmith that narrowed Indiana State’s lead to 9-4 heading into the eighth. Another big inning for the Sycamores helped put the game away for Indiana State with five runs in the top of the eighth inning, building a 14-4 lead for ISU.
As has been true all season, the Aces refused to give up, picking-up a single run on RBI double to right center by Roberts in the eighth. Evansville added two more runs in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run homer that sailed over the right field wall. The Aces would be unable to draw any closer with further runs in the ninth as Indiana State earned the 14-7 win.
Beilsmith highlighted the day at the plate for Evansville, going three-for-four with a single, triple, and home run, recording two RBI, coming just one batter away from getting a chance at going for the cycle.
Evansville and the Sycamores meet again on Friday for a doubleheader at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium at 1 & 4 PM in Evansville.
