EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Evansville senior right-hander Keegan Dennis limited the nationally-ranked Wichita State Shockers to just two runs on three base hits over 6.2 innings of work on Friday, and the Purple Aces’ offense produced five two-run innings en route to an 11-6 victory at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

 

Dennis set the tone early on the mound for UE, as after allowing a lead-off walk, he retired each of the next 10 men he faced thanks to five strikeouts. While Dennis was putting up zeros on the scoreboard, his teammates were busy putting up twos, as back-to-back two-run innings in the second and third frames gave UE a lead it would never lose.

 

An RBI double by senior first baseman Tom Heithoff and a sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Andy Pascoe gave UE its first two runs in the second inning. UE then made it a 4-0 lead with a two-run third inning thanks to an RBI single by junior outfielder Greg Wallace, a Wichita State error and a passed ball.

 

The Shockers would finally scratch a run across against Dennis in the fifth inning on an RBI single by third baseman Nate Goro, but UE would quickly respond with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a lead-off home run by sophomore infielder Trentt Copeland and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt by Pascoe.

 

UE would push the lead to 7-1 in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Heithoff. Wichita State would then answer with single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, only to have UE plate two runs each in the bottom half of both innings. The Shockers would then finish the scoring with three runs in the ninth inning, before UE freshman Jake Naumann retired Wichita State catcher Cody Lassley on a fly ball to center field to end the game.

 

Copeland and Heithoff both pounded out three hits to lead UE’s 13-hit attack, as Copeland finished a double short of the cycle, while Heithoff went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI. Wallace and Pascoe both drove in three runs each for UE, while Wallace and freshman shortstop Eric Stamets both had two base hits. For the Shockers, Goro was the lone Wichita State hitter with a multi-hit performance by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. 

 

Dennis (2-2) earned the victory for UE by scattering two runs on three hits in 6.2 innings of work, while striking out nine. Jordan Cooper (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year by yielding a season-high six runs (five earned) on eight base hits in 4.1 innings of work.

 

With the victory, Evansville evens its overall record at 13-13 while improving to 3-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State, meanwhile, falls to 15-9 on the season and 3-1 in the Valley with the loss. The two teams will continue the series on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Braun Stadium. Saturday’s game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.