EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The UIC baseball (18-24-1, 10-6 MVC) fought through a late-night pitcher's duel Friday but came up just short, falling 2-1 to Evansville (17-26, 10-6 MVC) in the opening game of another Missouri Valley Conference weekend series.
Early on, it was clear both pitchers were in control, as each team managed just one hit through the first three innings. Junior
Mason Lei set the tone on the mound for the Flames in his start, racking up five strikeouts in the early going.
The stalemate would come to an end in the top of the fourth when junior
Ashton Kampa would take the first pitch he sees in his second at-bat of the night over the right field wall to give UIC a 1-0 lead with his 10
th home run of the season.
Evansville had no answer for Lei, who matched his season high with his 11th strikeout in the top of the seventh, getting Charlie Longmeier swinging. The right-hander finished with seven innings of work, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out 11.
The Purple Aces regained the lead in the eighth, plating two runs to put the Flames in a late hole. UIC had one last chance to extend the game, but Evansville shut the door with a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win.
The entire play-by-play and box score can be found
here.
UP NEXT!
The Flames will return to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium Saturday afternoon, facing off against the Purple Aces at 2 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available at UICFlames.com.
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