AP Sports Preview

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — The Evansville Purple Aces and Valparaiso Beacons meet Sunday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field for the rubber match of a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series.

Evansville (18-29) enters with momentum after a 6-5 win Saturday evening, evening the series at one game apiece. The Purple Aces allowed two earned runs over nine innings in that victory, with pitcher Kevin Reed tossing four hitless innings in relief.

Valparaiso (11-34) dropped the Saturday contest despite a strong outing from Connor Lockwood, who allowed four earned runs over seven innings and struck out six. The Beacons won Friday’s series opener 6-5.

Reed, a right-hander, has been effective in his most recent outings. Over his last four appearances covering 16.1 innings, he has allowed seven earned runs while striking out 12. On April 17 against Belmont, he struck out seven across four innings in a winning effort.

Lockwood has been the Beacons’ most consistent arm. The righty threw a complete game April 25 against Belmont, allowing no earned runs and scattering seven hits. Despite Valparaiso losing all four of his past starts, he has logged 26.2 innings over that span.

The weather forecast calls for 70 degrees and cloudy at first pitch.

Evansville’s offense was sparked Saturday by center fielder Reid Haire, who went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Pitcher Tanner Graham earned the win with five innings of relief.

For Valparaiso, second baseman Thomas Cooper went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday’s loss, and third baseman Javin Gauthier homered.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-2 Evansville victory.

Evansville next hosts Murray State for a three-game series beginning May 14. Valparaiso travels to Central Michigan on Tuesday before a weekend series at Southern Illinois.