EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Milwaukee baseball team fell to the Evansville Purple Aces on Sunday afternoon by a 4-2 score.
 
Milwaukee's bullpen highlighted the day with four hitless innings, led by Aiden Fishnick, who tossed 2 2/3 frames. Tyler Andrews, Riley Golden, and Cullen Riel all pitched less than an inning while contributing to the scoreless effort.
 
The bullpen came on in relief of Riley Peterson, who once again set a new career high in strikeouts with eight over his four innings of work. Peterson allowed all four Evansville runs while suffering his second loss of the season.
 
"Overall, it's a disappointing end to the weekend, but once again we didn't do enough to deserve the victory today," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "It was definitely a day that favored pitching and defense but again we couldn't come up with the timely hitting when we had the chances."
 
At the plate, Christian Holmes and Dylan O'Connell led the Panthers with two hits each, while Holmes scored two runs and O'Connell picked up an RBI. Grant Ross also added an RBI.
 
"The difference really came down to their ability to get the runners in with guys in scoring position and less than two outs, while we got stalled and left guys out there," said Wegner. "Those are the 'little things' that we need to really own and execute if we want to be a good offense."
 
 
Evansville got on the board first with a run in the second inning before the Panthers responded with a run on Ross' RBI groundout score Holmes, who had doubled to lead off the inning. The Purple Aces got the lead right back in the bottom half with a double and a single.
 
After a scoreless fourth, Holmes led off the fifth with another double followed by a walk by Ross. A bunt moved the pair into scoring position before O'Connell singled to drive Holmes in and tie the score at two.
 
The first three batters reached off Peterson in the bottom of the fifth. Andrews recorded an out on a sacrifice fly, while Fishnick got the final two outs of the inning, allowing an inherited runner to score on a ground ball, making the score 4-2.
 
The Panthers had baserunners in each of the next three innings but were unable to string together enough hits to push across a run. Meanwhile the bullpen retired 11 of the final 13 batters it faced between Fishnick, Golden, and Riel.
 
"I credit our bullpen, they did a really nice job not allowing any hits on the day and stringing that game out to give us a chance," Wegner concluded. "We did create a little chaos late with some free bases but were able to wiggle out of it."
 
Milwaukee outhit the Purple Aces, 7-6, while stealing three bases.
 
Evansville was led by Charlie Longmeier with two RBIs, while Spike Magill and Ximi Baftiri both drove in a run. Kevin Reed earned the win, striking out one over five innings, while Owen Byberg recorded a four-inning save without allowing a run and scattering three hits.
 
Milwaukee's schedule features midweek play for the first time this season, as the Panthers will head to US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for a two-game set with the Golden Gophers. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening.