FLORENCE, KY – Wrapping up the four-game series Thursday night, the Evansville Otters fell to the Florence Y’alls 8-4 at Thomas More Stadium.

The Y’alls (29-34) scored four runs in both the first and third innings to jump out to a 8-0 lead over the Otters (24-40). After the early lead, Florence secured a third win during the four game series.

Right-hander Parker Brahms (3-6) gave up all runs as the starter went two and one-thirds innings allowing seven hits. He took the loss while Reed Smith (6-1) earned the win.

Finding an answer in the fourth inning, the Otters plated their first run of the game to get on the board. Randy Bednar hit a triple to right-center field with one out, followed by David Mendham’s sacrifice RBI fly to make it 8-1.

Both offenses went quiet until the eighth inning when the final runs of the game scored.

After a leadoff walk from Delvin Zinn, Gary Mattis hit a two-run homer that narrowly escaped the ballpark over the right field wall.

Sparking a new rally with the bases empty, Pavin Parks immediately followed up with a single. He moved from first to third on a pair of wild pitches before Mendham brought him home with a base hit.

Two arms shined out of the bullpen in Ryan WIltse and Chip Korbacher tonight. Wiltse began his outing by retiring the first 10 men he faced. He allowed just one hit with five strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings.

Continuing the success, Korbacher finished the seventh and eighth frames not allowing a run on just one hit with two strikeouts. He set down the first five Y’alls in his appearance.

Leading the offense with two hits each, Bednar and Mattis had solid days at the plate. Mattis and Mendham strung together multi-RBI efforts.

Evansville will now head back to Bosse Field to begin a nine-game home stand. The weekend series will be played against the Lake Erie Crushers. The first of three games against the Grapes begins Friday night with a 6:35 p.m. CT first pitch. Coverage is available on the Otters Digital Network a

Aces are well-represented on the list

 NORMAN, Okla. – Four University of Evansville men’s golfers earned Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar recognition in an announcement by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) on Thursday.

Earning the honor for the Purple Aces were Nicholas Gushrowski, Michael Ikejiani, Daniil Romashkin, and Caleb Wassmer.  For Gushrowski and Ikejiani, it marked their second time earning the recognition while Romashkin and Wassmer were first-time All-America Scholars.  A total of 532 student-athlete were recognized at the Division I level.

“Having ten Academic All-Americans within our men’s and women’s programs is something that I am extremely proud of,” UE Head Golf Coach John Andrews exclaimed.  “They put in the work and are deserving of the recognition.”

To be eligible for Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar nomination, an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior both academically and athletically in NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA, or receiving their Associate’s Degree and in their last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA. In addition, they must participate in 50% of their team’s competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 76.0 in NCAA Division I, under 78.0 in NCAA Division II, under 79.0 in NCAA Division III, under 78.0 in NAIA, and under 77.0 in NJCAA, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at their college or university.

Nicholas Gushrowski wrapped up the season with a 74.68 stroke average, second on the Aces squad.  He carded a season-low 69 at the 2023 Valpo Fall Invitational on his way to a tie for 3^rd place in the final standings.  Gushrowski’s top finish of the spring was a tie for 18^th at the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate.  The Civil Engineering major has a 3.876 GPA.

Michael Ikejiani completed the 2023-24 campaign with a 75.43 average with 12 of his 14 rounds finishing in the 70’s.  Posting a 70 in the third round of the Earl Yestingsmeier Invite, Ikejiani earned his best finish of the season, tying for 13^th.  He is a Literature major and holds a 3.610 GPA.

Daniil Romashkin led the way for the Purple Aces with a 73.91 stroke average with 19 of his 22 rounds finishing in the 70’s.  After tying for 3^rd place at the Valpo Fall Invitational, he came home in 9^th place at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate where he recorded a season-low 66 in the second round.  Romashkin added two top 11 finishes in the spring.  The first-time All-America Scholar holds a 3.887 GPA and is a Finance major.

Caleb Wassmer was also a first-time All-America Scholar honoree.  He put forth his best season in 2023-24, finishing with a career-low 75.61 stroke average.  Wassmer earned a top 15 finish at the Valpo Fall Invitational and followed that up with his top performance of the season.  At “The Buddy”, he registered a season-low 64 in the second round on his way to tie for 4^th place.  The Health Services Administration major has a 3.354 GPA.