Crews hits for cycle as Aces earn series win

EVANSVILLE – Redshirt senior Kenton Crews became the first Ace in the NCAA Division I era to hit for the cycle as the University of Evansville baseball team captured the series with a 10-1 win over Butler on Sunday at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“So proud of our team to have that kind of performance in the rubber match. We played well in every aspect,” remarked Aces head baseball coach Wes Carroll on the win. “We saw the first of many wins for Donovan Schultz in an Aces uniform and Kenton Crews having the cycle! Great day for the Aces.”

Evansville flipped the script on the Bulldogs from Saturday’s game, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first to take an early advantage. After senior Troy Beilsmith was hit by a pitch in the first at bat of the inning, freshman Simon Scherry promptly stepped to the plate and ripped a double down the left field line to score Beilsmith. Following another free pass with junior Tanner Craig taking a walk, Crews began his big day with a triple to left center that scored Scherry and Crews. The speedy Crews then scored from first on a base hit by senior Craig Shepherd to close the scoring in the inning.

After Butler scored a run in the second, Evansville answered with freshman Mark Shallenberger driving a base hit to center, scoring senior Ben Komonosky.

The fourth inning represented another offensive explosion for Evansville, both coming in quick succession. Komonosky led off the inning and drove a home run to left field, the Canadian’s first homer since May 17, 2019. Butler responded with a pitching change, which Beilsmith took advantage of. On the first pitch from the Bulldog reliever, Beilsmith copied Komonosky with a solo shot to nearly the exact same spot, increasing the Aces lead to 7-1.

Freshman Donovan Schultz finished his day on the mound after the fifth with a strong performance, allowing just one run and three hits, while striking-out five.

In the seventh, Crews rounded-out the most difficult portions of his cycle, slapping a two-run homer to left, scoring junior Eric Roberts. Later in the seventh, Komonosky drove in another run with a single to score senior Craig Shepherd.

Replacing Schultz, Roberts slid from designated hitter to the mound where he excelled, finishing the day with a perfect three innings of work with two Ks.

Crews completed his cycle with a base hit that slipped past the shortstop and rolled into left in the eighth.

The Aces recorded 15 hits on the afternoon, while limiting the Bulldogs to just three, closing-out the weekend with the 10-1 win. Through five weeks of the season, Evansville has won all three of its home series.

The senior’s cycle was the first for the Aces since Mike Platt completed the feat against Western Kentucky in 1977.

Evansville continues its homestand next weekend with a four-game set against Xavier on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at German American Ballpark at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.