The best-hitting lineup in the Missouri Valley Conference proved no match for the University of Evansville pitching staff on Sunday afternoon as the Purple Aces shut down 16th-ranked Missouri State for a 7-1 victory at Hammons Field.
“That was a statement game for our players,†UE head coach Wes Carroll said. “I think they have the confidence to know that if they play good baseball like they did this weekend, they’ll be in position to win games. I’m really proud of the effort from our guys to go on the road and win a series against an opponent like Missouri State.â€
The Aces (23-15, 6-3 MVC) scored in each of the first three innings on Sunday, but aside from a single run in the bottom of the third, the Bears (28-10, 3-5 MVC) were unable to get much else going as the trio of Alex Weigand, Brent Jurceka and Ryan Brady combined to help UE to a third consecutive series victory.
“Alex made some confident pitches out there for us against a good lineup, and then Brent just put the whole team on his back,†Carroll said. “That was one of those senior moments for him. He made all the big pitches when needed, and he did it consistently. Our pitchers were outstanding today.â€
For the third time this weekend, the Aces drew first blood as a Stewart Nelson walk and an error by Bear shortstop Jeremy Eierman put a pair of runners on in the top of the first inning. Boomer Synek followed up with a single to cash in the opening score, and Korbin Williams would triple the advantage an inning later with a two-run blast over the wall in left field.
Back-to-back doubles from Trey Hair and Synek in the third pushed the Aces lead to four before the Bears reclaimed a score with a Blake Graham single in the bottom half of the frame.
Hair and Synek led the rest of the Aces lineup on the day, combining to go 5-for-10 with a pair of runs batted in.
The Bears would also challenge in the fifth inning as MSU put runners on second and third with no outs, but Brent Jurceka would make the jog from the bullpen to shut things down, inducing three straight groundouts to end the threat.
“When I came in, I was just trying to make my pitches,†Jurceka said of the jam. “I try to take it one pitch at a time and not think ahead. I had all the confidence in the world, and I knew the guys behind me would make the plays.â€
Jurceka was lights-out over the course of the next four innings, giving up just one hit while striking out four, and Ryan Brady officially closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth.
A pair of two-out rallies added some insurance for the Aces as hits from Shain Showers and Nelson brought home a score in the sixth, and consecutive eighth-inning hits from Eric McKibban and Hair made it 7-1.
UE will return to action on Wednesday with a trip to Austin Peay.
NOTES: The Aces played in a Missouri Valley Conference rubber game for the third successive week … Since 1978, the first season that UE competed at the NCAA Division I level, UE is 38-49 vs. MSU … The Aces are 871-67 all-time against Missouri schools … Last season, the Aces were swept by Missouri State at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
