EVANSVILLE, IN ? The Evansville Purple Aces scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and made them stand up as they defeated the Indiana State Sycamores 6-4 in the first game of a three-game series on Saturday.
The game was delayed overnight after rain forced suspension of the contest after just three innings of play. Evansville took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a single up the middle by Nate Smith.
The Sycamores had the bases loaded with two outs in the third but could not manufacture a run.
Indiana State was finally able to dent the scoring column when played resumed after an overnight delay due to rain. Sean Osborne, Pascual Del Real and Gary Each hit back to back singles to load the bases with no outs with Osborne scoring ISU's first run as Ryan Strausborger flied out to right field.
Indiana State took the lead in the top of the fifth as Osborne blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence. Gary Shoemaker was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced as David Brumagin reached on a bunt single. With two gone, Osborne stepped up and delivered for the Sycamores, giving ISU a 4-2 advantage.
The Purple Aces got one run back in the bottom of the fifth after Matt Shelton took over for ISU starter Michael Manus. Brian Robinson delivered a two-out single up the middle to score Alex Acheson from second and cut the Sycamore lead to 4-3.
Evansville regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh with three runs crossing the plate. Brian Oliver took over for Shelton with two outs after the Purple Aces had scored one run. Two more scored on a single through the left side by Peter Tountas but that was all the damage done as Evansville took a 6-4 lead.
The Sycamores has runners in scoring position in the eighth but could not pick up a run. Indiana State left 12 runners on base in the game.
Matt Shelton (3-3) was charged with the loss, giving up four runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Sean Osborne went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and two singles. Pascual Del Real and Ryan Strausborger had two singles each, and David Brumagin one single.
ISU falls to 10-22 with the loss and 4-6 in the Missouri Valley. Evansville is now 8-28 overall and 2-10 in the Valley.
The two teams play their regularly scheduled Saturday game starting at 6:30 p.m. (ET) and will close out the three-game set with a 2:00 p.m. (ET) start on Sunday.
