Game One Box Score (HTML)
Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (HTML)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team picked up its first Missouri Valley Conference series victory on Saturday, splitting a pair of games during a rain delayed doubleheader against the Bradley University Braves at O’Brien Field in Peoria, Illinois.
In game one, Evansville battled until the end, bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but could not produce a game-tying hit, losing by a score of 6-3 to the Braves.
Wade Kapteyn (2-6) started for the Purple Aces, tossing four innings of baseball while allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits. The Evansville starter entered the game with just 11 walks on the season over 51 innings pitched, but could not find his best control, walking four batters and striking out none.
Evansville jumped ahead quickly in the first game, plating a run on a throwing error by Bradley starting pitcher Rob Scahill (2-1). Center fielder Jim Viscomi led off the game with a walk, would steal second base and advance to third on an errant throw by the Braves’ catcher Kevin Sullivan and would cross the plate two batters later when Scahill could not execute a runner down throw.
After Bradley responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, UE would tie the game in the top of the second. Right fielder Nate Smith led off the inning with a single to center field, would move up to second with a stolen base and advance to third when Sullivan’s throw made its way into center field. Two batters later, shortstop Peter Tountas would ground out to the shortstop to bring Nate Smith home.
Bradley would take the lead for good in the bottom of the third on a home run by first baseman Adam Kimble. Bradley would score two more in the next inning to stretch the lead to 5-2. Evansville would close the gap to 5-3 in the top of the fifth when Viscomi ground out to third base to bring second baseman Trentt Copeland across the plate.
Bradley’s starter Scahill shut down the Evansville offense in the game one, striking out a career-high twelve batters and scattering five hits over 8 2/3 innings. BU closer Bryan Porter entered and recorded the final out of the game for his fourth save of the season.
The start of the second game was delayed just over two hours due the expectation of rain, but was able to begin play later in the evening. It was worth the wait for the Aces, as they came through with an extra inning, 3-2 victory.
Bradley jumped out the early lead in game two, plating a single run in the bottom of the third inning. The Purple Aces would respond in top of the fifth inning, thanks to a key two-out RBI by left fielder Alex Acheson. With one out in the inning, Copeland and Tountas drew back-to-back walks and would be advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Andrew Gher. That set the table for Acheson, who blasted a pitch into the right-center field gap to plate both runners.
Bradley tied the game in the bottom of the frame and the contest would remain tied at two until the tenth inning. During that frame, the Purple Aces put only one ball into play, but were able to benefit from a string of two walks, a hit batter and another walk by Viscomi to plate the winning run. #Tom Heithoff# (3-1) pitched a scoreless ninth and tenth inning for Evansville to pick up the victory.
“It was nice that our team stepped up and got that one,” said head coach Wes Carroll. “Doubleheaders are so long for the student-athletes.
“But we were able to dig deep and take advantage of Bradley’s mistakes to pick up the win.”
With the series win, Evansville moves to 18-19 on the season and 6-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Bradley falls to 13-21 overall and 1-9 in conference play.
The Purple Aces will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Southeast Missouri State. The following day, UE will stay on the road to take on SEC powerhouse Kentucky. Wednesday’s game against the Wildcats can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
