EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team could not overcome a five-run deficit in losing the "Battle at the Braun", 7-4, to the University of Evansville Wednesday evening at Charles Braun Stadium. The Screaming Eagles saw their record go to 10-15 overall, while the Aces finish the night 16-12.
 
USI spotted UE a tally in the bottom of the first before getting on the scoreboard in the top of the second to knot up the contest, 1-1. Junior first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) drove a double off the right field wall, scoring junior third baseman Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana), to tie the game.
 
The Aces would retake the lead, 3-1, with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the second and extended the margin to 6-1 with a three-spot in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Eagles respond with their second tally in the top of the sixth when Gunn singled in junior center Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) with two outs. USI would rally for a second time in the top of the eighth, plating a pair of runs to pull within two, 6-4, on RBIs by Gunn, who was hit by a pitch, and freshman designated hitter Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana), who had a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
 
UE replied with a tally in its half the eighth to re-extend the lead to three runs, 7-4. USI tried to mount a comeback in the ninth after Cope singled to lead off the inning, but went down in order after that to suffer the loss.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Scott Haag (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) took the loss in his first start as an Eagle. Haag (0-2) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two in four innings of work.
 
The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field and Great Lakes Valley Conference action when it hosts the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for a four-game series Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m., while Sunday's twin bill is scheduled for noon.
 
USI holds an all-time series record of 35-26 over UW-Parkside after taking three of four last season in Somers, Wisconsin. The Eagles also hold a 21-7 mark versus the Rangers since Head Coach Tracy Archuleta took the helm at USI after five years of leading UW-Parkside.