PEORIA, Ill. -- The ability to hit with runners in scoring position made a big difference in the outcome as Evansville (32-15, 9-8) evened its weekend series at Bradley (25-15, 8-9) with a 7-2 Missouri Valley Conference baseball victory against the host Braves Saturday evening at O'Brien Field.

The visitors were 4-for-10 with four runs batted in with runners in scoring position, while Bradley was just 1-for-12 with one RBI after its base runners reached second base. The Braves were hitless in their first 10 attempts with runners in scoring position and wound up stranding 11 base runners in the game.

Senior shortstop Adam Uscicki drove in both Bradley runs. After the Purple Aces built a 4-0 lead in their first three innings against Braves starter Derek Goins (4-6), Usicki brought home Bradley's first run in the bottom of the third by grounding out to second base. Designated hitter Joe Napoli had led off the bottom of the third with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before scoring on Uscicki's ground out.

Trailing 4-1 in the fourth, the Braves brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs. Brad Canada led off the fourth with a double, while Jon Smith drew a one-out walk and Napoli loaded the bases with a two-out walk. Uscicki hit another ground ball to second base, however, to end the threat..

Trailing 5-1 in the eighth inning, Uscicki did deliver a two-out double down the left field line to plate second baseman Ryan Curry. Johnny Sage grounded out to end the eighth, and after the Purple Aces scored a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth, reliever Matt Brinkman finished off a 4-inning save by retiring the heart of Bradley's lineup in order.

The teams will play the rubber game in their 3-game Valley series Sunday. Due to the potential for afternoon thunderstorms, the start time for Sunday's series finale has been moved up an hour to noon.