EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the second time this week, junior outfielder Harrison Taubert played the hero in extra innings for the University of Evansville baseball team, as Taubert hit a two-out, two-run double in the 11th inning on Saturday to help power the Purple Aces past the host Michigan State Spartans, 5-3, at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field in East Lansing, Michigan.
“Today was just an overall great team win,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “I think that today was actually a pivotal game in our season, and we gave a gritty effort that really started on the mound for us. Kenton Deverman really battled all day long and showed the competitor that he is for us, to be able to give our offense a chance in ‘winning time.’
“Offensively, I thought we had some great at-bats, especially late, and then for Harrison to step up and deliver a barrel for us in the 11th was huge. Today’s a big win, and it now sets up tomorrow as an important game for us. We have to come to the park ready to battle tomorrow.”
Taubert, who came through with a walk-off RBI single in Wednesday’s 6-5 win over Southeast Missouri State, launched a double over the head of the left-fielder to score both senior first baseman Kip Fougerousse and graduate catcher Brendan Hord in the top of the 11th inning to give UE a 5-3 lead. Senior reliever Jakob Meyer (2-2) then worked a perfect bottom of the 11th inning to pick up the victory and help Evansville even the series with the Spartans.
Michigan State scored first on Saturday, getting a three-run home run from shortstop Randy Seymour in the second inning. But, from there, UE freshman starter Kenton Deverman silenced the Michigan State bats, as he allowed just the three runs on six singles and Seymour’s home run in 8.0 solid innings of work, striking out seven.
Deverman’s teammates would chip away late to force extra-innings, as Hord launched a solo home run in the seventh inning, and UE tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning. In the eighth, Evansville was able to get a one-out double by graduate third baseman Brent Widder, a two-out infield single by Fougerousse, and a run-scoring wild pitch to plate its first run. Junior outfielder Ty Rumsey then tied the game with a two-out single to left field to score Fougerousse and knot the game at 3-3.
The game would remain tied at 3-3 until the 11th, when Fougerousse worked a one-out walk, and Hord was hit by a pitch with two outs to bring up Taubert. Taubert laced a 1-0 fastball from Michigan State reliever Tommy Szczepanski (0-2) to deep left to score both runners and give UE the win.
Evansville out-hit Michigan State, 9-8, in the contest, with both Widder and freshman second baseman Brodie Peart delivering two-hit days.
With the victory, Evansville evens its record at 9-9 and evens the series at one win apiece. The two teams will square off in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. central time. Senior LHP Donovan Schultz (0-1, 10.38 ERA) will get the start for UE on the mound. Sunday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.
