The Purple Aces’ five-spot in the fifth wasn’t enough to take the series
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Coming back from an eight-run deficit didn’t keep the University of Evansville baseball team in its final game of the 2025 season, falling to the Bradley Braves 23-11.
The Purple Aces came back from an early eight-run deficit on Saturday afternoon. But 12 unanswered runs from Bradley after UE tied the game brought Evansville’s season to a close in eight innings. The Aces were led on offense by sophomore left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) with three hits and five RBIs in four at-bats.
The Braves jumped out to a large lead early with two bases loaded walked in runs, a grand slam, and another home run. UE went to the plate for the first time that afternoon, already back eight runs. Evansville’s offense answered with two runs of its own in the bottom frame of the first.
The Aces had two hits to start as Longmeier singled through the right side and second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) doubled to right center. A sacrifice fly from catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) scored Longmeier while a sacrifice fly double play from right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) brought home McGinnis.
Both teams went down in order during the second inning. The Braves added another run to their total in the top of the third on an RBI double. UE’s offense kept answering as Evansville put two more hits into play in the bottom of the third.
Longmeier hit his only triple of the year in his second at-bat to score third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS), who led off the inning with a single of his own. Longmeier then made his way home on the next play as an error from Bradley’s shortstop on a knock from McGinnis gave him time to score the Aces’ fourth run.
The game continued at a back-and-forth pace as the Braves added a run in the fourth on a walk and two singles. UE added two more runs of its own as first baseman Ben Stuart (Mason, Ohio / William Mason HS) and Howard crossed on two singles and a double. Bradley again added a single run in the top of the fifth at German American Bank Field to widen its lead back to five runs.
Evansville had its biggest offensive inning in the bottom of the fifth as it looked like the tides were turning its way. The Aces sent eight hitters to the plate through the frame, starting the bottom of the fifth with three straight hits. Taubert added his eighth home run of the year with a moon shot to right, scoring himself and outfielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS).
Designated hitter Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) followed up the homer with a double to left, putting UE right back into scoring position. Howard reached base for his third straight plate appearance after two quick outs for Evansville. It was Longmeier who had the biggest hit of the inning, as he hit a no-doubter out of left field, tying the game at 11-11.
But the Aces weren’t able to score again in the final three innings of the game as they didn’t get past the batter’s box. It was all the Braves as they added six hits to score 12 runs with help from two errors and nine free bases. UE sent its two seniors who didn’t start the game to the plate in the bottom of the eighth for their final at-bats in an Evansville uniform. Neither Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / North Bedford Lawrence HS) nor Kevin McCormick (Orland Park, Ill. / St. Laurence HS) reached first base, but both made contact with a deep flyout to center and a close groundout to third.
The Aces end the 2025 season with a 17-37 overall record and a 10-17 MVC record. UE says goodbye to seven members of its roster this summer in Rumsey, McGinnis, Flaherty, Stuart, Waggoner, McCormick, and pitcher Jacob Jarvis (Farmington, Mo. / Jefferson College). Combined the six position players accounted for 222 hits, 45 doubles, 14 home runs, 132 RBIs, 114 runs scored, 73 walks, and 721 at-bats. While Jarvis pitched 10 innings in 10 appearances, with seven strikeouts.
