EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After being held in check nearly all game long on Thursday night, the visiting UIC Flames rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth inning and one in the tenth to grab a 5-4 victory over the host University of Evansville baseball team at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
UE freshman starter Kenton Deverman and sophomore reliever Max Hansmann combined to limit the Flames to just two runs on three hits, all in the fourth inning, before UIC rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning.
With UE leading 4-2 going to the ninth inning, back-to-back singles by catcher Jackson Bessette and Kendall Ewell opened the frame for UIC. Then, after a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly brought UIC back within a run at 4-3. A walk put runners on the corners with two out, before outfielder Rayth Petersen tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single to center field.
After UE was retired in order by reliever Zack Millsap (3-0) in the bottom of the ninth inning, UIC got an RBI double by Bessette off the wall in right field in the tenth inning to take a 5-4 lead. UIC closer Reece Lawler then worked around a one-out walk to post a scoreless tenth inning to record his 12th save of the season.
The loss spoiled a stellar outing by UE freshman pitcher Kenton Deverman. Deverman allowed only four base runners in 7.0 innings of work, with three of them coming in the fourth inning when the Flames strung together three two-out hits to score a pair of runs. Outside of that, Deverman retired 21 of the other 22 men he faced in order, with the lone other runner reaching base on a UE error. Deverman recorded nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter in the outing.
UE scored first in the third inning on a lead-off double by graduate catcher Brendan Hord, a single by junior designated hitter Evan Waggoner, and an RBI double by senior shortstop Simon Scherry.
After UIC took a brief 2-1 lead against Deverman in the fourth inning, Evansville answered back with two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI fielder’s choice by senior first baseman Kip Fougerousse and an RBI single by junior second baseman Cal McGinnis. UE would add a run on an RBI single by graduate third baseman Brent Widder in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead. The game would remain 4-2 until the ninth, when UIC rallied.
McGinnis and Scherry both had three-hit nights for UE, while Waggoner added a pair of hits as well. Evansville out-hit UIC, 12-8, but the Purple Aces also stranded 12 runners on base.
With the victory, UIC moves into sole possession of second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with a 33-16 overall record and 16-9 Valley mark. Evansville, meanwhile, falls into a tie with Murray State for third place with a 29-23 overall record and 15-10 MVC mark. The series will continue on Friday night at 6 p.m. with graduate LHP Donovan Schultz (3-2, 6.31 ERA) scheduled to get the start for UE. Friday’s game can be seen live on ESPN+ and heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.
