BLUE RAIDERS BLANK BASEBALL ACES, 2-0, IN SERIES OPENER 

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee State starter Jaden Hamm tossed a complete-game one-hit shutout on Friday, and Blue Raider lead-off man JT Mabry went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, as MTSU took the opener from the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 2-0, at Reese Smith Jr. Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

“We spoiled a great start today from Nick Smith, and their starter put together a three-pitch mix today that we couldn’t handle,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “Big game tomorrow to get back into this series.”

After Hamm set the tone in the first inning by sending the Purple Aces down in order, MTSU got all of the offense it would need for the day on just six pitches.  Mabry led off the frame with a line-drive to right that just got past a diving Eric Roberts in right field and rolled all the way to the warning track for a triple.  He then trotted home three pitches later on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Brett Coker to give MTSU a 1-0 lead.

From there, Hamm and Smith traded scoreless frames on the mound until the sixth inning.  UE sophomore center-fielder Ty Rumsey opened the sixth inning with Evansville’s only hit of the day on a bouncing ball over the mound. UE would put runners on the corners with one out, but Hamm was able to get a double-play ground ball to get out of trouble and maintain a 1-0 lead.  Mabry then worked a one-out hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the inning and scored on a double by Coker to push the MTSU lead to 2-0.

Evansville would bring the potential tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, but Hamm struck out UE junior catcher Brendan Hord to end the threat and the contest.  It was a fitting end of the day for Hamm (3-1), who struck out 11 men while walking three in the complete-game victory.

Smith (1-3) was the tough-luck loser for Evansville, as he allowed the two runs on six hits while striking out five in 7.0 innings of work.  At one point in the contest, Smith set down 11 MTSU hitters in order.

With the win, Middle Tennessee State improves to 7-6 on the season, while Evansville sees its record even at 7-7. The two teams will continue the series on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., with UE sending senior LHP Tyler Denu (1-0, 3.45 ERA) to the mound.  Saturday’s game can be seen live on ESPN+.

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March 11, 2023 

BASEBALL ACES EVEN SERIES AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE WITH 5-3 WIN 

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The University of Evansville baseball team executed in all three facets of the game on Saturday – pitching, defense, and at the plate – to even its three-game series at Middle Tennessee State with a 5-3 victory at Reese Smith Jr Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  The rubber match of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

“This was a great win to get back into the series,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “We had a good plan against their starter, and were able to get out in front early.  Then, we continued to play great defense, and I thought that our bullpen was outstanding to secure today’s win.”

Evansville threatened in the first two innings, putting runners in scoring position in each frame, but came up empty to start.  Evansville was finally able to break through though in the third inning and manufacture three runs to grab control of the contest.

Two walks and an infield single by fifth-year first-baseman Chase Hug loaded the bases with no one out.  Evansville would plate its first run on a passed ball, before a wild pitch scored a second run.  UE junior catcher Brendan Hord then came through with a sacrifice fly to give UE a 3-0 cushion.

The Blue Raiders would quickly respond with two runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.  The score would remain that way until the top of the fifth inning, when UE fifth-year outfielder Eric Roberts crushed a pay-off pitch to right-center field for his third home run of the year to give UE a 4-2 lead.  The Purple Aces would then turn to the bullpen, and graduate transfer Jarrett Blunt and senior Jakob Meyer took care of the rest.

Blunt (2-0) worked three scoreless innings out of the UE bullpen, scattering two singles and a walk while striking out four to earn the victory on the mound.  Meyer then worked a perfect eighth inning, and after UE tacked on another run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch, he surrendered a run on a hit while striking out two to earn his first save of the season.

Offensively, UE pounded out eight hits, with Hug, fifth-year outfielder Danny Borgstrom and sophomore outfielder Ty Rumsey all collecting two hits.  Evansville also was able to work nine walks in the contest, with all nine men in the lineup reaching base safely.

Shortstop Brett Coker went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead MTSU offensively.

With the victory, Evansville improves to 8-7 overall, and the Purple Aces have won eight of their last 10 contests.  Middle Tennessee State, meanwhile, sees its record even at 7-7.  The series will conclude Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with UE sending junior LHP Donovan Schultz (1-1, 5.14 ERA) to the mound for his fourth start of the year.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball allowed a pair of big innings and lost to Oakland University, 7-5, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles watched their record go to 5-9, while Oakland goes to 5-8.
 
The Eagles flew out to a 3-0 lead after three innings with a tally in each of the frames. USI senior centerfielder Evans Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) led off the first with a triple and scored on a ground out by senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) to make the score, 1-0.
 
USI upped the lead to 2-0 when freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) scored on a wild pitch in the second, while senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) tripled and scored in the third for the 3-0 lead when McNew reached on an error.
 
The Grizzlies exploded for four runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, aided by three Eagle errors. USI responded to regain the lead in the fifth, 5-4, with a pair of runs on a RBI-double by junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) and a RBI-single by Niehaus.
 
USI held the slim lead until the seventh when Oakland posted three runs to take the lead for good in the 7-5 final. Oakland scored the three runs on four hits, two walks, and a hit batter.
 
The Eagles tried to rally in the final three frames, but hit into three double plays that squashed any comeback rallies.
 
On the mound for USI, sophomore right-hander Adam Weihe (Louisville, Kentucky) took the loss in relief. Weihe (0-3) allowed the three runs in the seventh on four hits.
 
USI sophomore right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) started and got the no-decision. Seebold allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks, while striking out two in three innings.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and Oakland conclude the three-game series Sunday with a noon first pitch.
 
Following the Sunday’s three-game series conclusion, the Eagles hit the road Tuesday to visit Saint Louis University for a 3 p.m. contest (NEW START TIME). The Billikens are 10-3 in 2023 and have won 10-straight after losing three in a row to start the year.
 
USI returns to the USI Baseball Field after the single game at SLU to host Southern Illinois University Wednesday. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. The Salukis, currently, are 6-9 and complete a three-game set with the University of Kentucky Sunday at home.

Promotion Alert:
The first 100 students at the USI Baseball Field for the USI-Southern Illinois University game on March 15 will receive a free AZZIP pizza coupon. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the series opener with Oakland University, 4-2, Friday evening at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 5-8, while Oakland goes to 4-8.

After spotting the Golden Grizzles a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, USI grabbed a 2-1 lead on a pair of solo home runs by senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) and junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas). Kahre led off the Eagles’ first inning with his first home run of the season, while Ebest led off the fourth inning with his team-best fourth of the year.

The score would remain in USI’s favor until the top of the seventh when the Grizzlies scored three times to re-take the lead, 4-2. The Eagles missed a chance to chip away at the deficit in the eighth, leaving the bags jammed, and in the ninth, leaving a runner on base.

USI sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) took the hard luck loss for the Eagles after departing the game with the score tied, 2-2, and the eventual winning run on second. Hutson (1-2) allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in the start, while striking out a career-best seven in 6.1 innings of work.

Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and Oakland continue the three-game series Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch before concluding the set with a noon game Sunday.