DALLAS, Tex. - With their backs against the wall, the University of Evansville baseball team demonstrated heart in battling Southern Illinois through nine innings and then some, before finally falling on a heartbreaking reversal in extra innings, falling to the Salukis in a Missouri Valley Conference tournament elimination game, 5-4.
The Purple Aces struck early, as senior third baseman Stewart Nelson led off the game with a double to right-center. Nelson would later score on a ground out to second by senior right fielder Dalton Horstmeier, putting Evansville out in front early.
On the hill, head coach Wes Carroll turned to sophomore right hander Adam Lukas, who looked sharp early, holding the potent Saluki line-up scoreless through the opening frames.