The Purple Aces snapped a five-game losing skid on Friday night
CARBONDALE, Ill. – For the first time in over a month, the University of Evansville baseball team won its first game of an MVC series in a 6-3 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis.
The Purple Aces played a clean and complete game on Friday night to open up their last Valley series away from home. Despite a two-run deficit early, UE’s offense was able to battle back, scoring six runs on 12 hits. Over half the lineup had two hits on Friday to help back up another strong pitching performance from starter Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo. / Fort Zumwalt West HS). While Deverman didn’t record a strikeout for Evansville in seven innings, he didn’t allow a free base to the Salukis and threw 70 strikes to earn his third win of the season.
“It felt good to go through the clap line and address the team after this game,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the win. “We’re in playoff mode, and I think every pitch mattered to this club. Our defense made some plays, and seeing good Aces baseball was refreshing.
“I’m really proud of the club as it’s been a grind over the past month with injuries and changing lineups. Us coming here on the road in the Valley and playing a complete game, I’m really proud of them.”
It was a slow start on Friday night for the Aces as Southern Illinois capitalized early and had a two-run lead after only two innings. UE had hits in the top of the second with back-to-back base knocks from first baseman Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers Academy) and designated hitter Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario). But with two outs already on the board for the two singles, McGhee and Peart were stranded on the base paths in the second.
The top of the third was when Evansville’s offense really got going as third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) led off the inning with a walk. Left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) followed up the walk with his first hit of the day, putting the Aces in scoring position with no outs on the board. UE’s next two batters didn’t leave home, adding two outs.
But two outs on the board wasn’t an issue for second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley). McGinnis put a double down the right field line to tie the game up as both Howard and Longmeier scored. McGinnis almost scored himself as it looked like catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) had put a home run past the left field wall. But after further review, the home run ball was called foul, and Flaherty was retired in five pitches.
Evansville eventually got its home run an inning later as shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) hit his fourth of the year out of left center field. McConnell’s home run gave the Aces their first lead of the day in a tight 3-2 game. UE’s defense kept Southern Illinois’ offense stifled over the next four innings with a double play in the fourth and not allowing more than a hit a frame in the next three.
In the top of the sixth, Evansville added some insurance runs, growing its lead to three. The inning began with another round of back-to-back singles from McGhee and Peart. This time, both runners scored for the Aces on two groundouts and an infield single from Howard. UE kept the Salukis quiet in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 5-2 lead into the final third of the night.
Evansville added one more run in the top of the eighth after an empty seventh inning for both sides. A single through the right side for McConnell, followed by a wild pitch, soon put the shortstop into scoring position. It was again Longmeier who came through for the Aces with his second RBI of the night on a double to right center, sending McConnell home.
UE held its four-run lead for only an out as Southern Illinois opened the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to make it a 6-3 game. But Evansville’s defense locked in, picking up its second double play of the night and a flyout to end the inning. The Aces got a runner aboard in the top of the ninth as McGinnis had his second hit of the evening with a single through the right side. UE’s next two batters went down in order though, sending the defense back out onto the field.
Evansville’s defense quickly made short work of the Salukis in the bottom of the ninth. The Aces took down the SIU batters in order to earn the decisive 6-3 victory. With the win, UE ended a five-game losing streak and stays a game ahead of the Bradley Braves in the Valley standings. Evansville is back in action tomorrow night at Itchy Jones Stadium, where they will try to win the series early. First pitch on May 10 is set for 6 p.m.
