VALPARAISO, Ind. – On a chilly, wind-swept Sunday afternoon, the University of Evansville baseball team earned a hard-fought doubleheader split with Valparaiso, earning the Aces another Missouri Valley Conference series victory.
In game one, UE starting pitcher Nathan Croner (5-5) got touched up for three runs in the opening frame, as the Crusaders built an early 3-0 lead.
After being shutout through the first three frames, the Evansville bats would shake off the slow start in the fourth inning. After loading up the bases, freshman right fielder A.J. Fritz got the Aces on the scoreboard with a single through the left side of the infield, bringing in junior shortstop Craig Shepherd.