EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville freshman starter Kenton Deverman tossed a complete-game four-hitter on Friday night, as the host Purple Aces knocked off the visiting Missouri State Bears, 4-1, at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
“What a special performance tonight by Kenton Deverman on the mound,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “He certainly did not look like a freshman tonight, as he went out and battled against a very good lineup in Missouri State.
“Tonight was a classic Friday night pitcher’s duel in the Missouri Valley Conference. I thought that their guy (Brandt Thompson) was really good tonight as well, and we were just able to scratch across enough runs to get the win and set us up for a situation to win another series on a Saturday.”
Deverman was strong from the start, allowing just a single hit through the first four innings. Missouri State would strike first against him in the fifth inning on a one-out RBI single by catcher Dylan Leach, but Deverman’s teammates quickly answered back to tie the game, and he retired 13 of the final 15 men he faced, not allowing a base runner past first base after the fifth inning.
UE tied the game for Deverman in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a hustle double by junior outfielder Harrison Taubert and a Missouri State error. Graduate third baseman Brent Widder then gave UE the lead for good in the sixth inning with a line-shot home run to left field for his ninth home run of the year. Senior shortstop Simon Scherry followed two batters later with an RBI double down the left-field line to move UE’s lead to 3-1. Another double by Taubert and an RBI single by graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger in the seventh inning capped the scoring for UE.
Deverman improved to 6-1 with the victory, striking out six in a complete-game effort. Taubert went 3-for-5 with three doubles, while Shallenberger added two hits.
With the victory, Evansville improved to 23-18 overall and 11-5 in the MVC. Missouri State, meanwhile, dropped to 17-23 overall and 6-10 in the MVC with the loss. The series will continue on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., with UE graduate left-hander Donovan Schultz (2-1, 6.29 ERA) scheduled to get the start for the Purple Aces. Saturday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.