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MURRAY, Ky.—University of Evansville sophomore catcher Andy Pascoe continued to swing a red-hot bat Wednesday, and relievers Mark Obenchain and J.R. Carbonell were able to make a pair of three-run innings stand up, as the visiting Purple Aces held off the hard-charging Murray State Thoroughbreds, 6-5, at Johnny Regan Field in Murray, Kentucky.

Pascoe, who went 4-for-4 in UE’s victory at Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday, anchored the UE offensive attack once again on Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI.  Pascoe ignited a three-run sixth inning rally which helped UE overcome a 5-3 deficit with a two-run home run to left field, his third home run of the year.  Sophomore pinch-hitter Alex Acheson would come through with an RBI single later in the frame to cap the three-run rally, and then it was up to UE’s bullpen to hold the lead.

The two three-run innings were enough for Obenchain (1-3) and Carbonell, as they combined to give up just an unearned run in 7.0 innings of work.  Obenchain came on in the third inning for UE, surrendering just an unearned run in 5.2 innings of work, while striking out five.  Carbonell then came on to record the final out of the eighth inning with a runner on second and induced a game-ending fly out to left field with the potential game-tying run on third base to record his third save of the year.

Reliever Anthony Stacy (1-1) suffered the loss for Murray State, yielding the final run of UE’s three-run sixth inning rally, while giving up four base hits in 2.0 innings of work on the mound.

Pascoe paced UE’s 12-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort, while Acheson and junior infielder Andy Smith also produced two hits each.  Once again, Evansville had balance up and down its lineup, as seven of the nine position starters, and eight players overall, collected hits on the afternoon.  Designated hitter Wes Cunningham went 4-for-5 for Murray State (11-15 overall), while third baseman Tyler Owen had three hits and two runs scored as well.

With the victory, Evansville (6-24 overall) has now won four non-conference games in a row.  The Purple Aces will try to build on that momentum this weekend in conference play, as UE will travel to Springfield, Missouri for a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Missouri State.  The series will begin Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and continue both Saturday (2:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.) afternoon.  All three games of the weekend series can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.