Game 1 Box Score (HTML)
Game 2 Box Score (HTML)
WICHITA, Kan.—After being held in check in a game-one loss to Wichita State on Saturday, the University of Evansville baseball team was the aggressor in game two, scoring three early runs and pounding out 10 base hits en route to a 5-3 victory in the nightcap of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader at Eck Stadium, home of Tyler Field, in Wichita, Kansas.
Senior lead-off man Jim Viscomi keyed the game-two victory, by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Viscomi hit the first pitch of the game into right-center field, was quickly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third, and came around to score on an infield ground out by sophomore designated hitter Greg Wallace to give UE an early 1-0 lead.
Evansville was then able to take advantage of a throwing error by Wichita State starter Jordan Cooper (5-3) on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the second inning to score two runs and take a 3-0 lead. The Shockers would answer back with a single run in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 3-3, but junior RHP Keegan Dennis and relievers J.R. Carbonell and Tom Heithoff would combine to shutout the Shockers the rest of the way, while more aggressive base running helped UE earn a doubleheader split.
UE took the lead for good in the fifth inning, on a one-out single by sophomore infielder Cody Fick, and a double by Wallace. On the play, Wallace drew a wild throw from Wichita State’s left-fielder which skipped to the WSU dugout and allowed Fick to score all the way from first to give UE a 4-3 cushion. Viscomi then manufactured another run in the seventh on a lead-off single, a stolen base which he advanced to third on thanks to another error by Wichita State, and a bunt base hit by Wallace with runners on the corners and no one out.
“Jim Viscomi did a really great job of setting the tone for us in the second game, with the three hits and some very aggressive base-running,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “Cody Fick and Greg Wallace had two great games as well, as Greg’s bunt base hit in the seventh inning was a key hit for us and a smart, head’s up play on his part.
“It was good to salvage at least one victory on the weekend today. We came here wanting to win the series, but we came up short. But, at least we got the victory in the series finale and hopefully, we can build on this win this week.
“I really can’t say enough about the job that our pitchers did today in game two. Keegan Dennis did a great job of filling the strike zone, and both J.R. Carbonell and Tom Heithoff came in and did their job in relief.”
Dennis (1-2) earned the victory on the mound, yielding three runs on seven base hits, while striking out five men against no walks in 5.0-plus innings on the mound. Carbonell and Heithoff then combined to toss 4.0 shutout innings of four-hit baseball, with Heithoff earning his fifth save of the year.
Wichita State won the opener of the doubleheader, 6-1, behind a strong outing by freshman left-hander Charlie Lowell (5-1), who held Evansville to just a first-inning run on four base hits in 8.0 innings of work. He out-dueled senior RHP John Foley (3-2) for Evansville, who tossed a complete-game, but was victimized by three errors which led to four unearned runs.
On the doubleheader, Viscomi paced UE at the plate, going 5-for-8 with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Wallace also had three hits in the two games, while driving in two.
With the split, Evansville improves its record to 14-18 overall and 4-8 in the MVC. Wichita State, meanwhile, moves to 20-13 overall and 5-2 in the Valley on the season. Evansville will return to action next on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. as the Purple Aces will welcome Murray State to Braun Stadium for a non-conference contest.
