Box Score

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Trailing 5-4, the University of Evansville baseball team scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to overcome Tennessee Tech University, 11-6, Saturday afternoon at Bush Stadium. The win marks UE’s fifth straight and also clinched the series over the Golden Eagles, while improving the Aces’ record to 9-5. Evansville looks for the sweep tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

“It was a great win with all three facets clicking” said head coach Wes Carroll. “It was nice to see the heart of our order get multiple RBIs, and get those six runs in the seventh.

“It’s always great to clinch the series on a Saturday and head into Sunday with a chance to sweep. We look to keep it rolling tomorrow with Kyle Freeland on the mound,” added Carroll.

Sam Johns (1-2) earned the win out of the bullpen, relieving starter Kyle Lloyd in the sixth, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing one run, one hit, and struck out one. Lloyd, who entered the game with a 3-0 record and unblemished earned run average, gave up four runs, eight hits, and struck out four. Jake Naumann tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth, and Kyle Spencer closed the ninth.

Evansville struck first in the opening inning, leading off with back-to-back singles off Tech starter Matthew Shepard. Eric Stamets singled through the left side, stole his 15^th base of the year, and scored on Jake Mahon’s single to right field.

However, the Golden Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs off Lloyd. TTU put two runners on base following a leadoff single and walk. Both advanced on a sac bunt, and scored on Zach Stephens’ double down the left field line. Stephens gave Tech a 3-1 lead, crossing the plate on TTU’s third hit of the frame.

Tech made it 4-1 in their favor in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together three consecutive singles with one out.

Not quitting, Evansville tied the ballgame in the fifth with three runs on three hits and two walks. With one out, #Tim Bodine, Stamets# and Mahon hit three straight singles, scoring one. Trentt Copeland watched four balls go by to load the bases, and Jason Hockemeyer did the same, walking in Stamets from third. Kyle Pollock’s sacrifice fly capped the rally, making the score 4-4.

The Golden Eagles took their last advantage of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Evan Frazier lined a leadoff double off Johns, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sac fly.

However, the Aces took control from there, batting through the order in the seventh, scoring six runs on five hits. With one out, Evansville loaded the bases when Mahon was hit by a pitch, Copeland singled to right, and Hockemeyer walked. Hits suddenly became contagious as Pollock singled, plating Mahon, Pearson doubled down the left field line, scoring two, and Kevin Kaczmarski traded places with a double down the right field line, bringing in two more. Andy Lasher recorded UE’s fourth straight hit with a single through the left side, giving the Aces a 10-5 lead.

Both UE and Tech scored one run in the ninth.

Evansville recorded a season-high 15 hits and 10 RBIs as a team, led by Kaczmarski’s three hits (3-for-5) and two runs batted in. Stamets (2-for-5), Mahon (2-for-4), Hockemeyer (2-for-3), and Pollock (2-for-3) also logged multi-hit games.

The Aces are back in action Sunday at 1:00 p.m.