EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- What was supposed to be a marquee match-up of two leading candidates for Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year turned into a battle of the bullpens as Evansville won the the opening game of a three-game Valley series Thursday night at Braun Stadium.

Evansville designated hitter Pat Tumilty completed a 6-for-6 night by hitting a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th, leading the Purple Aces to a 6-4 win. Evansville (34-19, 14-8) moved into a virtual tie with Wichita State atop the league standings by pulling out its eighth consecutive win. Bradley fell to 24-27 and 11-10 in league play with two games remaining.

Friday's game began with Bradley senior ace Brandon Magee (7-4, 2.57 ERA) matched up against Evansville senior ace Adam Rogers (7-3, 3.16 ERA). Both hurlers pitched seven innings, but litle had been settled when they exited, as the two offenses had combined for 26 hits in the 4-4 tie. Magee surrendered 12 hits, but only two of the runs charged against him were earned. Rogers allowed 14 Bradley hits and all four of his runs allowed were earned.

The league leader in strikeouts, Magee fanned five Purple Aces, improving his season total to 98 and moving to within four of Wyman Carey's career record of 261 strikeouts.

Already leading 4-2, Bradley had a chance to break the game open in the fifth when the Braves loaded the bases with one out. Rogers worked out of the jam by getting Colby Luttrell to hit a ground ball to third for a force out at the plate then fanning Ryan Eigsti. Evansville pulled even by taking advantage of a similar situation in the bottom of the sixth. Aided by a Jason Newburger throwing error, the Purple Aces loaded the bases with two outs. First baseman Kasey Wahl delivered a two-run single, but Evansville lost a chance to build on the inning when Kern Watts was thrown out trying to score all the way from first.

Evansville reliever Matt Brinkmann wound up being the pitching star of the night. Brinkmann pitched four innings of hitless relief while striking out eight to pick up the win. Brinkmann caught all three of Bradley's hitters looking in the 11th. Collin Brennan (5-3) suffered his first career Valley loss in relief of Magee. Brennan, who was 4-0 with two saves in his first eight Valley appearances, struck out four in his three-plus innings of work, but served up Tumilty's game-winning shot.

The two teams will continue their series with another 6 p.m. game Friday, before ending the regular season with a 1 p.m. contest Saturday at Braun Stadium.