EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — Ryan Seddon launched a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, capping a late rally and lifting the Evansville Purple Aces to a 5-2 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds in the Missouri Valley Conference opener at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

The game’s decisive moment came after two outs in the final frame. With the score locked at 2-2, Evansville’s Harrison Taubert walked and advanced to third on a stolen base and a catcher’s error. After a strikeout, pinch-hitter Aaron Nehls walked, and Tate Deal entered as a pinch-runner. On a 1-1 count from Illinois State reliever Reece Clapp, Seddon drove a pitch over the right-field wall, abruptly ending the contest and setting off a celebration for the home team.

The dramatic finish overshadowed a masterful pitching duel for much of the game. Evansville starter Max Hansmann delivered his best performance of the season, shaking off recent struggles to shut down the Redbirds’ offense. The right-hander pitched seven strong innings, allowing five hits and no earned runs while striking out four. He effectively silenced an Illinois State lineup that had scored 28 runs in its previous three games.

Illinois State had struck first, capitalizing on two Evansville errors in the opening inning to plate two unearned runs. Brayden Bakes led off with a double and later scored on an error by the second baseman. Graham Mastros, who singled, came home on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Bakes. That early 2-0 lead, however, would be all the Redbirds could muster against Hansmann and reliever Owen Byberg, who tossed two scoreless frames to earn the win.

The Purple Aces chipped away at the deficit in the fourth inning against Illinois State starter Thomas Harper. Ryan Seddon scored on an RBI single from Spike Magill, and Reagan Reeder later stole home as part of a double steal, tying the game at 2-2.

Harper was dominant early, striking out eight over four innings but was charged with two runs on four hits. The Redbirds’ bullpen combination of Shuto Okumura and Clapp held Evansville hitless over 3 1/3 innings until the ninth, but command issues and the critical error ultimately proved costly.

Seddon finished 2 for 4 with the three RBIs, all on his game-winning blast. Magill went 2 for 2 with an RBI and was hit by two pitches. Bakes led Illinois State with two of the team’s seven hits.

The victory improved Evansville’s record to 6-17 overall and 1-0 in MVC play, providing a bright spot in a difficult season. The loss dropped Illinois State to 16-9 overall and 0-1 in the conference, defying pregame projections that heavily favored the Redbirds.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon.