Aces baseball takes series opener in 7-6 win over Missouri
The Purple Aces matched their season-high in hits against the Tigers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Evansville baseball team earned its first road win of 2025 in a back-and-forth battle with the Missouri Tigers.
The lead on Friday night changed hands three times before the Purple Aces closed the door on Missouri with a 7-6 win. It was the team’s first meeting in just under 40 years as UE tied the series on Friday with the victory. Evansville’s offense combined for 14 hits and seven RBIs while its pitching threw nine strikeouts and only three walks.
“We took a big step tonight as we won a close game early in the season,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll following the game. “We had great overall approaches at the plate, especially seeing Cal McGinnis have a big game. [Pitchers] Deverman and Roberts made some big pitches to earn this win. I’m ready to see us compete for 18 innings tomorrow.”
The Aces offense got going early as third baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) hit a solo home run into right field with two outs on the board. Friday was the first game this year where UE scored in the first inning. But the Tigers quickly tied the game up in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot of their own.
Evansville kept attacking the ball as left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) led off the second with a single to left. Longmeier soon made his way to third as he stole second base and advanced on a throwing error. But he would be stranded in scoring position as the Aces didn’t find a deep ball to bring Longmeier home.
Missouri had a similar result in the bottom of the inning as UE’s defense stranded a runner on base. Evansville’s offense got going again in the top of the third as right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) hit his second double of the season to lead the team in slugging percentage. Taubert scored to give the Aces another one-run lead with McGinnis connected on his second hit with a long single to center field.
The UE defense stranded two more Tigers in the third to preserve the one-run lead. Evansville got a little insurance in the top of the fourth as Longmeier took first on an error and scored two at-bats later as shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) had an RBI groundout to second.
But the Aces’ two-run lead didn’t last long as Missouri began the bottom of the fourth with a double, a single, and two bunts to tie the game. The Tigers then took the lead with a sacrifice fly and another single for a two-run advantage. Starting pitcher Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo. / Fort Zumwalt West HS) got out of the inning with his fourth strikeout of the night but was credited with three of the scored runs.
It remained a 5-3 game for the next two innings as neither offense could get anything going. But it was UE who broke out first in the top of the seventh. Evansville’s top of the order hit five singles in a row with only one out on the board to tie up the game. Longmeier helped give the Aces the lead with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring McGinnis to make it a 6-5 game.
UE’s defense quickly ended the seventh with three outs in four at-bats while the offense added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. After a ground out to begin the inning, second baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) was hit by a pitch to take first base. Evansville returned to the top of its order for center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) who already had a hit and a diving out on the night. Rumsey smashed the fifth pitch he saw down the right field line for the Aces’ first triple of 2025 and a two-run lead.
UE was able to hang onto its lead with strong defense and a big performance from RHP Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe HS). Despite a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth, Evansville limited the damage with two strikeouts and a ground out. Missouri was able to score, making it only a one-run game for the Aces going into the ninth.
Longmeier and first baseman Ben Stuart (Mason, Ohio / Willam Mason HS) singled in the ninth. But with two outs on the board beforehand, neither runner scored an insurance run for UE. In the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers’ first batter flew out to left for an out while their pinch hitter was walked. Roberts was able to buckle down after the walk, throwing back-to-back strikeouts to close the door on a potential Missouri comeback.
Deverman earned his first win of the season pitching seven innings with seven hits, five runs, four earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. Roberts had Evansville’s first save of the year pitching two innings in relief for no hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts. On offense, Taubert and McGinnis led the way with three hits each. McGinnis also led the Aces in RBIs bringing in three runs on the night.
UE and Missouri face off again tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader. The first game is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch from Taylor Stadium.
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