Down to their last at-bats, trailing by two, the University of Evansville baseball team staged a four-run, then held off Bradley to earn a 6-4 victory, sealing a sweep on the first weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Aces drew first blood in the top of the first, as sophomore first baseman Tanner Craig delivered an RBI single to left, scoring Troy Beilsmith, making it 1-0 Evansville.
On the hill, senior left-hander Alex Weigand came out strong, striking out three across the first two innings of shutout work.
In the third, Tanner Craig would strike again, stinging a single to shortstop, Craig Shepherd, extending the Evansville lead to 2-0. However, in the bottom of the frame. the Braves would knot it up, on a two-run homer off the bat of Jean-Francois Garon. That would be Weigand’s only blemish on the day, as he tossed four innings, striking out 6 while allowing two runs on six hits.
Senior right-hander Justin Hayden would take over from there, tossing three shutout innings, keeping the game knotted up. However, in the eighth, Bradley would put a pair aboard with one out, chasing Hayden from the game. Freshman left-hander Michael Parks would come in in relief, and the Braves’ Nick Murray greeted him with an RBI single to left. Later in the inning, a sacrifice would plate an insurance, putting Evansville in a 4-2 deficit headed to the ninth.
However, in the final frame the Aces ignite. Troy Beilsmith got the rally started, reaching on a fielder’s choice, scoring senior left fielder Matthew Jones. Senior center fielder NateReeder would knot the game uo with an RBI single through the left side of the infield, tallying freshman pinch runner Eric Roberts, tying the game at four. Next, Tanner Craig would cap a big day at the plate with a go-ahead run-scoring single to right. The four-run eruption would end with senior third baseman Sam Troyer reaching on an error, bringing in Nate Reeder for the insurance tally.
Michael Parks would come back out to pitch a shutout ninth, putting the wraps on the 6-4 victory.
The victory gives Evansville its first series sweep of a team since taking the brooms to Western Illinois last season (March 2-4), while improving their overall record to 14-9. Bradley’s mark drops to 12-10.
The Aces are back in action Wednesday against Tennessee-Martin at Charles H. Braun Stadium. First pitch is at 6 p.m..
