The Purple Aces recorded six hits in the final game of the weekend
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team kept things close for five and a half innings at Itchy Jones Stadium but didn’t stop the Southern Illinois Salukis from putting on a two-inning rally in a 13-3 loss.
The Purple Aces went up early on Sunday afternoon but couldn’t hold onto their lead at Southern Illinois. The UE defense gave up 10 runs over two innings as they fell in the series finale. Evansville’s offense had six separate batters connect on a hit while freshman shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) led the team with two RBIs.
“We couldn’t escape the big inning today,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the series. “I’m disappointed with how we played the last two games after a stellar performance on Friday.”
It was a fast start in Carbondale as both sides had a three up and three down first inning. The Aces struck first in the top of the second as designated hitter Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario) got a one-out single to begin the game’s offense. Center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) soon joined him on base as he got hit by a pitch. McConnell both runners’ home on a double deep into right field, making it a 2-0 lead early for UE
Southern Illinois was able to respond in the next frame as they took advantage of two free bases that were brought in on a two-out single. Evansville headed into the top of the third with the game tied at 2-2. The Aces had two runners on in the top of the third with a lead-off walk and a hit by pitch. But UE stranded both with back-to-back outs right after.
The Salukis took a one-run lead in the bottom of the inning as SIU third baseman Matt Schark hit his fourth home run of the weekend. It was a quick fourth and fifth inning as both defenses locked in to get at least a frame of three-up and three-down ball.
Evansville’s offense got back into gear in the top of the sixth with two hits as second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) led off the inning with a single. It took two more at-bats until McGinnis crossed home plate to tie the game 3-3 as catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) put a double into right center field.
But Southern Illinois answered big in the bottom of the sixth, scoring eight runs on four hits, an error, and a sacrifice fly. The Aces’ offense again had plenty of work to do late in the game, trailing by eight runs with only three more innings at bat. Pinch hitter Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) led off the seventh with a single. But a double play two at-bats later made it a one-two-three inning on offense for UE.
The Salukis had another big offensive inning in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game early. Evansville suffered its second run-rule defeat in as many days in the 13-3 final from Carbondale. Reliever Drew Fieger (Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Lincoln Trail CC) was charged with the loss from the Aces pitching staff as starter Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe HS) exited after the fifth inning with the game tied.
UE is scheduled for one final non-conference game on Tuesday night. Evansville heads back to the west side of town for its last match-up with Southern Indiana. First pitch from USI Baseball Field is currently set for 6 p.m.
