MVC Tournament Opener: A Saluki Surge
The University of Evansville’s baseball squad opened the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a disappointing 8‑4 defeat to Southern Illinois.
Evansville jumped out to a 2‑1 advantage after three innings, highlighted by Charlie Longmeier’s leadoff single in the third and Reid Haire’s two‑run homer that put the Aces ahead.
However, Southern Illinois answered with a three‑run homer in the fourth and added three more runs in the fifth, extending their lead to 8‑2 before Evansville could respond.
Cooper Rhodes contributed two doubles for the Aces, while Reagan Reeder drove in a run with a single in the seventh, narrowing the gap briefly.
Relief pitcher Kellen Roberts entered in the seventh and Drew Fieger struck out a batter with the bases loaded in the eighth, but the rally fell short.
The Aces are now slated to play an elimination game the following day against the loser of the Illinois State versus Murray State contest.