EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team used a pair of three-run innings on Saturday to cruise past the visiting UIC Flames, 8-2, on “Senior Day” at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.
“What a good way to close out this regular-season!” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “On the mound, we had a freshman in Kevin Reed really step up and give us a chance today on ‘Senior Day,’ and then our offense was finally able to put up some crooked numbers there in the middle of the game to take control of things.
“I am really proud of how we have played the last two months of the season, and have captured this momentum going into the conference tournament.”
Reed (5-1) was sharp early, as he held UIC to just one hit through the first four innings, as he was locked in a scoreless pitcher’s duel through four innings. The Flames would finally score a run on a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly against Reed in the fifth inning, but his teammates would answer right back to give him the run support needed to win.
An infield single by junior outfielder Ty Rumsey, a walk and a double-steal put two men into scoring position to open the fifth inning for UE. Rumsey would score on a fielder’s choice ground ball to tie the game at 1-1. Then, two batters later, graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger doubled off the left-field wall and senior designated hitter Kip Fougerousse launched a two-run home run to left field to give UE a 3-1 lead.
Sophomore reliever Max Hansmann pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings, while UE tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take control of the contest. Junior outfielder Ty Rumsey opened the scoring with a one-out RBI single through the right side of the UIC infield. Freshman second baseman Brodie Peart then followed with a two-run single to center field to give UE a 6-1 lead.
UE would score two more runs in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded walk by Peart and an RBI single by senior shortstop Simon Scherry to move the advantage to 8-1. The Flames would get a run back in the eighth inning, but graduate reliever Jace Kressin came out of the UE bullpen to record the final five outs in order to nail down the victory for UE.
Fougerousse, Rumsey and junior outfielder Harrison Taubert all had two-hit performances for UE. Peart added three RBI, while Scherry drove in a pair of runs as well.
With the victory, Evansville finishes the regular season with a 31-23 overall record and 17-10 Missouri Valley Conference mark. UE finished in a tie for second-place, and the Purple Aces will be the No. 3 seed in this week’s MVC Tournament which will be hosted at UE’s German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium. The tournament will officially begin on Tuesday with games at 2:30 and 6 p.m., while UE’s first game in the tournament will come at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, as the Purple Aces will face No. 4 seed Illinois State. Tickets for the MVC Tournament can be purchased on-line at GoPurpleAces.com under the tickets link, or by phone by calling Logan Belz in the UE Athletic Ticket Office at 812-488-2623.
