CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois right-fielder Nathan Bandy came through with a two-out, walk-off RBI single to the right-center field gap in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon, as the home-standing Salukis edged the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 3-2, at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.

“This is a tough series loss, as we were in the driver’s seat after our performance on Friday night,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “We just didn’t earn it offensively today.  We need to turn the page, and get ready to attack this week coming up.”

Bandy’s walk-off single capped a back-and-forth affair between the two schools on ESPNU.  The two teams traded home runs in the first two innings, as SIU outfielder Pier-Olivier Boucher and UE junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse both hit home runs to left field to start the scoring for their respective teams.

Both teams would put two men on in the third inning, but SIU starter Tanner Lewis and UE starter Donovan Schultz were able to escape the jams.  From there, pitching would dominate both sides until SIU was able to score a run in the bottom of the sixth inning against UE reliever Michael Parks (2-1) on back-to-back singles by shortstop Kaeber Rog and second baseman Steven Loden and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Matt Schark.

Evansville would answer right back, though, as junior catcher Brendan Hord and Fougerousse led off the top of the seventh inning with back-to-back singles against SIU reliever Paul Bonzagni (6-2).  After a walk loaded the bases with no-one out, graduate outfielder Eric Roberts crushed a ball to right that Bandy was able to track down on the warning track in right field for a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 2-2.  Then, Bandy robbed fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug of a base hit with a sliding catch in the right-center field gap, and Bonzagni got an infield ground out to keep the score tied at 2-2.

Evansville would produce two-out base runners in the eighth and ninth innings, but came up empty offensively.  Schark would then lead off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double against Parks.  UE junior closer Nate Hardman then came on to get back-to-back outs, but Bandy spoiled an 0-1 pitch with a single to right-center field to score Schark with the game-winning run and give the Salukis a series victory over UE.

Fougerousse went 2-for-4 with his sixth home run of the year to lead Evansville offensively.  Schark, meanwhile, went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.  Bonzagni earned the win with 3.0 innings of one-run, three-hit relief for SIU.  Parks, meanwhile, suffered the tough-luck loss despite tossing 4.0 innings of two-run, four-hit relief in which he got eight ground-ball outs.

With the victory, Southern Illinois improves to 22-14 overall and 10-2 in the MVC, while the Salukis earned their 12th-straight Missouri Valley Conference series victory.  Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 20-15 overall and 6-6 in the MVC.  The Purple Aces will return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium on Tuesday night to host Western Kentucky University in a 6 p.m. contest.

Aces fall by a final of 6-2

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State plated two runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings to win Sunday’s series finale against the University of Evansville softball team at Racer Field.

Ailey Schick got the scoring started with an RBI triple in the second inning before two more RBI knocked in the fourth extended the lead to 4-0.  Scoring on a walk and wild pitch in the sixth, the Racers made it a 6-0 game. Marah Wood led the third inning off with the Purple Aces’ first hit of the afternoon – a double to left center.  Alexa Davis drew a 1-out walk before the Racers escaped damage and recorded the final two outs. Trailing by six entering the top of the seventh, the Aces were able to manufacture two runs.  Zoe Frossard doubled to bring in Hannah Hood, who reached on a leadoff error.  Kaylee Lawson brought in Frossard on a ground out, but the late rally came up short with MSU clinching the series with a 6-1 win. Sydney Weatherford made the start for UE and allowed four runs, three earned, in four innings.  Erin Kleffman went the final two frames and allowed two earned runs.  As a team, the Aces picked up two hits on the day.

On Tuesday, UE will be back home to face SIU Edwardsville in a 6 p.m. game.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Tennis dropped two matches this weekend in Nashville, Tennessee as they fell to Tennessee State University, 5-2, on Saturday and Belmont University, 7-0, on Sunday. The Screaming Eagles fall to 5-14 (1-6 Horizon League) while the Tigers go to 10-12 (6-2 Horizon) and the Bruins improve to 18-5 (9-0 Horizon).
 
USI vs Tennessee State
Doubles:
After the Tigers took the number two doubles to open the match, the Eagles bounced right back and earned a win in one doubles, as freshman Omar ElSamahy (Cairo, Egypt) and senior Lucas Sakamaki (Louisville, Kentucky) took down their opponent 7-5. Tennessee State would take the number three doubles match to secure the point.
 
Singles:
The Tigers stayed hot as they took the number three, four, and six singles matches to claim the match victory early. USI would not back down as ElSamahy would earn a win by default in number two singles while senior Yahor Bahdanovich (Minsk, Belarus) would earn a victory of his opponent in number five singles, 1-6 6-3 7-5.
 
USI vs Belmont
Doubles:
Belmont would take both the number two and three doubles matches to claim the point while the number one doubles would go unfinished.
 
Singles:
The Bruins would stay hot and take all six singles matches in straight sets to earn a match victory.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI returns home for their final two matches of the regular season as they play host to Lindenwood University on April 22 at 1 pm and Eastern Illinois University on April 23 at noon. The Eagles will celebrate Senior Day when they host Eastern Illinois. Both matches will be played at the USI Tennis Courts.
 
The USI match with Tennessee Tech University that was previously postponed will not be made up and will go as a no contest for both teams.