Nine-run third inning delivers 10th win for Aces

EVANSVILLE – Buoyed by a nine-run third inning, the University of Evansville baseball team captured a 10-5 midweek victory over Austin Peay on Tuesday evening at German American Bank Field in Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“It was nice to be back home and get a win,” said Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll. “Mark Shallenberger had a monster day as he continues to stay hot. We grinded out some at bats to have a big nine-run inning. Pitchers did enough to fight off a comeback with Kieren Hall making some big pitches. We need to have a couple days of good practices to clean up some things and get ready for Michigan State.”

The early advantage was secured by Austin Peay, who scored one in the top of the first, recording three hits and grabbing the early lead. In the first two innings, as Evansville attempted to answer quickly, the Aces earned a walk in each, but were unable to get a hit or push a run across.

Evansville’s breakthrough came in a big way in the third inning to the tune of nine runs. A pair of walks and a base hit from Shallenberger loaded the bases with no outs and a run scored as Simon Scherry reached on a fielder’s choice. A single from Brent Widder pushed Evansville in front in the next at bat, scoring Shallenberger. After a pitching change, Evan Berkey and Danny Borgstrom combined to cushion the Aces lead with three combined RBI, lifting UE to a 5-1 lead. Batting around, Ty Rumsey drew his second walk of the inning, loading the bases for Shallenberger. The St. Louis native stepped to the plate and promptly drove the ball to right center field, evading a leaping attempt by the Governors right fielder and clearing the wall for a grand slam, pushing the Aces in front, 9-1.

Austin Peay attempted to cut into its deficit with two runs in the fourth, but Evansville answered as Widder lasered a solo homer down the left field line to keep a seven-run lead for UE.

Later in the contest, the Governors would again plate two runs, doing so in the eighth inning, but Evansville reliever Kieren Hall slammed the door on any further comeback as the Aces captured the 10-5 win.

On his big day at the plate, Shallenberger moved above .400 on the season, now batting .404, and recording the first grand slam for Evansville since Eric Roberts did so against South Dakota State on April 4, 2021. Widder also recorded an impressive day at the dish, going two-for-four on the evening with two runs and two RBI. On the mound, lefty Tyler Denu earned the victory, pitching 2.1 innings of relief, allowing two hits and one run, while striking-out a pair.

Evansville’s homestand continues this weekend with a three-game set against Michigan State, beginning on Friday night at 6 PM at German American Bank Field in Evansville.