The University of Evansville Purple Aces turned a rocky start into a commanding victory in their series opener against Murray State, capitalizing on the Racers' pitching struggles to secure a 10-6 win.

Early on, the Aces found themselves in a 5-2 hole, but the momentum shifted dramatically when Murray State's pitchers lost their command. In the third inning, Nic Schutte walked in a run but managed to escape the frame. However, the fourth inning proved disastrous for the Racers. Schutte was pulled after issuing another bases-loaded walk, and reliever Ethan Lyke immediately walked in a run. Lyke then hit Cooper Rhodes with a pitch, knotting the score at 5-5. With the bases still juiced, he walked Reagan Reeder, handing the Aces a 6-5 lead and electrifying the home crowd.

The Aces' bats truly erupted in the bottom of the sixth. After a quiet stretch, UE strung together three hits, highlighted by Reeder's two-run triple that stretched the lead. Mason McCue followed with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to plate another run, pushing the advantage to 9-5.

Murray State managed to scratch across a run in the seventh, but Evansville answered with an insurance run in the eighth to seal the 10-6 victory. The win showcased the Aces' resilience—falling behind early, capitalizing on opponent mistakes, and delivering clutch hits when it mattered most.

The Purple Aces will look to keep the momentum rolling in game two of the series on Friday, May 15th, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.