Evansville, Ind.-- University of Southern Indiana baseball team lost 18-8 to the University of Evansville in the first ever "Battle of the Braun" Thursday evening. USI falls to 5-14 overall, while Evansville goes to 10-5. This was the first meeting between the tri-state teams since 1988.

The Aces drew first blood with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Screaming Eagles responded with five runs in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by junior centerfielder Noah Wetzel (New Salisbury, Indiana).

Evansville chipped away at the USI lead with a pair of runs in the second, a single tally in the third, and two more in the fourth to take the lead 6-5. The Aces broke the game open with five runs in the fifth to take a commanding 11-5 lead.

USI bounced back with three runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 11-8. The big hit of the inning for the Eagles was a two-run triple by junior rightfielder Matt Keener (Newburgh, Indiana).

The Eagles were unable to push another run across as the Aces responded with six runs in the bottom of the sixth and one more in the seventh for a final score of 18-8.

Wetzel led the USI attack with a two-for-five evening, scoring twice and knocking in three runs. Junior second baseman Bryan Davis (West Chester, Ohio) also drove in three runs, going three-for-four with a run scored.

On the mound, senior right-hander Nathan Esche (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) took the loss in relief for the Eagles and is 0-1 this spring.

The Eagles resume action in the GLVC with a four-game series at Lewis University this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21. The first pitch is scheduled for noon each day. The next home game for USI will be Wednesday, March 24, when the University of Missouri-St. Louis comes to Evansville for a noon doubleheader.