Box Score

NASHVILLE – The University of Evansville baseball team jumped out to a three-run lead in the second inning and held onto an advantage the entire way, overcoming the hosting Vanderbilt University Commodores, 5-3, Tuesday night at Hawkins Field. The Aces will enter Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend with a 14-7 record.

Sophomore right-hander Ryan Billo (3-0) held a firm presence on the mound through 6.0 innings, limiting the 2011 SEC Champions and College World Series participants to just one run and five scattered hits, while striking out a career-high six batters en route to his third straight win on the hill.

Out of the bullpen, Jake Naumann tossed the seventh and eighth frames, allowing two runs, three scattered hits, and struck out one, while working his way out of an eighth inning jam with limited damage. Josh Biggs earned his fourth save of the season, tossing a scoreless ninth, also striking out one.

Offensively, freshman Kyle Pollock played like a veteran, leading the Aces with four hits and two runs, reaching base in every at-bat. Kevin Kaczmarski was also stellar with a 2-for-2 performance, an RBI, and run scored, while Tim Bodine (2-for-3) recorded a multi-hit game for the fourth consecutive game. Junior Andy Lasher had a team-high two RBI, going 1-for-4.

Evansville recorded 10 hits off the Commodores, while also capitalizing on Vanderbilt’s five fielding errors and two walks.

The Aces got the bats going in the second inning, as Pollock singled with one out and scored on Kaczmarski’s triple to right-centerfield. Lasher’s bobbled grounder to third plated Kaczmarski, and Lasher moved around the bases on a passed ball and Bodine’s single off the glove of starting pitcher Keenan Kolinsky (1-1). He scored on another fielding error at third base to give UE a 3-0 head start.

Evansville gave themselves a four-run cushion in the fifth as junior Jason Hockemeyer and Pollock lined back-to-back singles through the infield and moved into scoring position on Kaczmarski’s sacrifice bunt. Lasher scored Hockemeyer from third on his fly-out to right field.

Vanderbilt started to make contact in the sixth after Billo had for the most part silenced the Commodore’s bats for five solid innings. A double and single to lead off the inning, followed by a walk, loaded the bases for Mike Yastrzemski. After his hard hit ball hooked just to the right of the foul pole, Billo forced a sacrifice fly-out, and Mahon made a web gem at third to allow just one run to score in the frame.

Evansville added an insurance run in the seventh as Pollock reached on VU’s third error of the night, advanced on Lasher’s bunt single, and crossed the plate on Chris Pearson’s sac fly to right.

Leading 5-1, Vanderbilt threatened in the eighth, cutting the deficit to two when Tony Kemp lined his second double of the afternoon, Yastrzemski walked, and both scored on pinch-hitter Drew Fann’s double to left-centerfield.

However, closer Josh Biggs shut down Vanderbilt in the bottom of the ninth. After giving up a leadoff single, Biggs sat the next three Commodores down in order.

The Aces open up MVC play at home this weekend, bringing Indiana State to Braun Stadium for three games starting Friday night at 6:00 p.m. CT.