The Purple Aces had their second multi-home run day of the weekend
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a rainy and cold series finale, the University of Evansville baseball team was swept by the Belmont Bruins in a 10-6 loss.
Another late-game offensive rally from Belmont kept the Purple Aces from picking up a win over the weekend. UE led going into the final three innings of Sunday’s contest, but the Bruins added 11 runs to sweep the series. Sophomore left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) had almost half of Evansville’s hits with three in his sixth game of the season with three hits.
“It was one of those weekends where nothing broke our way,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll following the game. “[Starter Max] Hansmann gave us a warrior effort on the mound to give us a chance, but we couldn’t get enough out of some other guys.”
It was another fast start to the game on Sunday as both sides mostly went down in order in the first two innings. The offenses exploded in the third inning as both teams put multiple runs on the board. Belmont had its biggest inning in the top of the third, scoring five runs on five hits as they batted through the order.
The Aces had a good start to the bottom of the third as right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) led off with a double. Taubert moved to third on a fielder’s choice to outfielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS). Rumsey then also made his way into scoring position with his 29th steal of the season. Longmeier brought in both runners with a deep single to left to cut the Bruins’ lead to three.
UE’s defense was able to hold Belmont scoreless over the next three innings as starting pitcher Max Handsmann (Elmhurst, Ill. / York HS) allowed only two hits and one walk. Evansville’s offense continued its two-run-per-inning clip through the next two innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Taubert added his seventh home run of the year, making it a 5-4 game.
During the bottom of the fifth, second baseman Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill. / Bishop McNamara HS) led off with a single. McCue found himself coming home two at-bats later as Longmeier had his sixth home run of the season and his third in six games to give the Aces a 6-5 lead. UE kept the lead through the sixth inning, but the Bruins tied the game in the seventh.
Evansville’s offense went cold in the final four innings, not registering another hit after the bottom of the fifth. Belmont took over the game from the Aces in the final two innings, scoring a combined 10 runs on six hits and five walks for the 16-6 final score.
UE heads across town for its next game, taking on Southern Indiana Tuesday night. Evansville will play the Screaming Eagles at USI for its midweek game each of the next two weeks. The first of the two games on May 6 at USI Baseball Field is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
