PEORIA, IL - In a game that began as a pitcher's duel quickly turned into a lopsided affair as Evansville (14-30, 5-7 MVC) broke an 8-game losing streak with an 11-1 victory at Bradley (18-24, 4-9 MVC) in the opening game of a Missouri Valley Conference series Friday night at Dozer Park.
Bradley starting pitcher Nathan Stong (L 3-3) took a 1-hit shutout into the sixth inning, but lost control of the game after hitting Evansville No. 9 hitter Troy Beilsmith with a pitch to open the frame. Aided by three errors and a second hit by pitch in the inning, Evansville broke the game open with Trey Hair's 2-run triple and Kenton Crews' 3-run home run off the left field fair pole in a 6-run outburst.