Taubert adds fourth home run in midweek setback at SEMO
The Purple Aces had their second game getting hit by five pitches at the plate
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The University of Evansville baseball team wasn’t able to follow up its first series win with a third after a 17-6 loss to the Southeast Missouri Redhawks.
The Purple Aces took an early lead at Capaha Stadium on Tuesday afternoon with the program’s first inside-the-park home run since 2023. But UE couldn’t hang onto the lead as SEMO scored multiple runs in all but one inning. The top of Evansvillle’s order had the most success at the plate as outfielders Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) and Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) had two hits each.
“We were not competitive in any aspect of the game tonight,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll. “It’s unfortunate because I believed we came off last weekend with some momentum.”
It took only two batters for the Aces to score the first run of the game on Tuesday. In his first of four at-bats, Taubert hit a ball to left field that became an inside-the-park home run, giving UE a 1-0 lead. Evansville got one other runner on base in the first as catcher Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS) was hit by a pitch. Waggoner was left at first as the Aces next batter struck out for the third out.
The Redhawks answered UE’s run quickly in the bottom of the first. SEMO scored five runs in four at-bats after a line out and a walk began the frame. With one runner on, the Redhawks had four straight hits including a double and a home run to make it a 5-1 game. Evansville was able to get two outs in one at-bat shortly after with a lineout to third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) that also became an out at first.
The Aces went down in order in the second while SEMO added two more runs. Starting pitcher RJ James (Toronto, Ontario) pitched 1.2 innings before LHP Jack Wills (Shelbyville, Ky. / Shelby County HS) took the mound for the final out of the second inning. UE got back on the scoreboard in the top of the third as a lead-off walk for Howard soon became a run with a single for Rumsey, a fielder’s choice, and a ground out.
Evansville’s defense had its shortest inning in the bottom of the third with an untraditional three-up and three-down inning. A strikeout and a flyout began the bottom of the third but the Redhawks next batter was hit by a pitch. He didn’t stay on the base paths long as he was caught stealing at second on a long throw from Waggoner to shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS).
Along with a quick bottom of the third, the Aces added another run in the top of the fourth. A double down the right field line for second baseman Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill. / Bishop McNamara HS) scored designated hitter Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) after he led off the inning with a single. SEMO again answered UE’s run with four of its own. A sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scored the Redhawks’ first run of the fourth. While a three-run homer in the next at-bat made it an 11-4 game.
Evansville began the fifth with two runners on base early as both McConnell and Waggoner got plunked in back-to-back at-bats. A passed ball during the next at-bat moved both runners into scoring position. First baseman Ben Stuart (Mason, Ohio / William Mason HS) came up big for the Aces hitting a double to right center that scored both McConnell and Waggoner. Two strikeouts after the double ended the top of the fifth as UE trailed by five runs.
SEMO began the bottom of the inning with a lead-off walk and had a hit two batters later. Both of the Redhawks runners scored two at-bats later as their right fielder doubled down the left field line. Evansville ended the inning on the next play getting a rundown out at second base.
Facing a 13-5 score, the Aces added a run in the top of the sixth inning. Despite a lead-off strikeout, UE put together two straight singles from Rumsey and Taubert. Taubert’s single went into right center putting Rumsey at third base. The center fielder scored on the next at-bat as McConnell hit a sacrifice fly to center field making it a 13-6 game.
Evansville’s defense began the bottom of the sixth with a flyout. But SEMO launched their third home run of the game in the next at-bat. The Redhawks offensive dagger ended up being a triple to right center after a double that scored three runs for a 17-6 game. With an 11-run deficit in front of them, the Aces needed to score a run in the top of the seventh to keep the game going. UE wasn’t able to get a ball into play in the seventh, falling to SEMO 17-6.
Evansville is back in action tomorrow afternoon at SIUE. The Aces will look to bounce back from Tuesday’s loss with Wednesday’s game against the Cougars. First pitch from Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex is set for 4 p.m.
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