The Purple Aces came out victorious in a 27-run total game between the two teams
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – It was an eventful final conference game at Hammons Field for the University of Evansville baseball team as they picked up a 16-11 win over the Missouri State Bears.
The Purple Aces took an early lead at Hammons Field and were able to fight off Missouri State three separate times to get a 16-11 win to end the weekend. UE’s offense had a season-high 17 hits in the nine-inning slugfest on Saturday. Three separate batters led the way with three runs each in left field, Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS), first baseman Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers Academy,) and right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC).
“It was a great team win today!” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the game. “Our offense showed fight throughout and never gave up. We pieced it together on the mound as well to get the victory. I’m proud of the overall effort we had today against their special offense.”
The Aces got off to a fast start on Sunday afternoon as center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) led off the game with a solo home run past center. UE tacked on two more runs to take a 3-0 lead after an inning and a half with three hits, a fielder’s choice, and a walk in the top of the second. But Missouri State brought the game back within a run in the bottom of the second on a two-run homer from right fielder Zack Stewart.
Evansville had one of only three blank frames on offense in the top of the third. The Bears tied the game up for the first time in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly, but the Aces were able to answer back in the fourth. Taubert led off the inning with a hit by pitch and scored four at-bats later when Longmeier had his first hit of the game with a single through the right side. Longmeier’s single also scored Rumsey, who reached first in the at-bat prior on a fielding error for a 5-3 UE lead.
Missouri State responded with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom frame of the fourth to tie the game at five runs apiece. Evansville’s offense went down in order in both the fifth and the sixth innings while the Bears took their only lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth. Two hits, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly scored two runs for Missouri State to put the Aces down by a pair of runs going into the final third of the game.
UE’s offense exploded in the final three innings, scoring 11 runs to take the game. Evansville’s offensive run began in the seventh with five straight hits after two flyouts. A double from pinch hitter Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS) scored the first of four runs in the seventh for the Aces. UE scored on the next two at-bats to retake the lead by two runs.
Evansville’s defense took down the Bears quickly in the bottom frame before adding two more runs in the top of the eighth. Longmeier added his fifth home run of the season and second of the weekend to lead off the inning. The Aces’ next run came four at-bats later as infielder Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) came home on a failed pickoff attempt for an 11-7 game.
But for the third time on Sunday, Missouri State tied the game back up with a four-run inning. The Bears hit their fourth home run of the day to bring the game back within two runs and then added two more with four straight hits. UE’s defense was able to get out of the inning with a double play, but again needed its offense to deliver for a win.
And Evansville’s offense did just that as 10 batters went to the plate in the top of the ninth. With two walks, three hits, and a hit-by-pitch, the Aces added another five runs. A double from McGinnis began the scoring as UE loaded the bases on its next two at-bats. A pitch hit Waggoner to bring in a run while Taubert’s third hit of the afternoon scored two more runners.
Missouri State tried to come back in the bottom of the ninth with two singles to begin the frame. But the Evansville defense came through again with two putouts and a strikeout from closer Drew Fieger (Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Lincoln Trail CC) to seal the win. The Aces avoided a sweep in Springfield to win their final MVC game at Hammons Field.
UE returns to German American Bank Field on Tuesday evening. Evansville will complete the home portion of its home-and-home series with the Indiana Hoosiers on April 29. First pitch from Charles H. Braun Stadium on Tuesday night is set for 5 p.m.
