EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Evansville junior outfielder Greg Wallace was the hero of the Purple Aces’ 5-4 victory in game one of a modified doubleheader on Friday afternoon at UE’s Charles H. Braun Stadium, and he nearly proved to be the hero in game two as well, but Ty Wiesemeyer’s diving catch of a Wallace sinking line drive to the left-center field gap thwarted a furious ninth-inning rally by the Purple Aces, as the visiting Illinois State Redbirds held on for a 7-6 victory in the nightcap.

 

Wallace helped UE win the conclusion of a game that was suspended on Thursday night due to rain, as he launched his ninth home run of the year to dead center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 4-4 tie and give the Purple Aces a 5-4 lead in the opener. Relievers Zach Taylor (3-1) and Tom Heithoff (10th save) would make the lead stand up, allowing just one runner to reach base in the final two frames to preserve the victory and hand Illinois State just its fifth loss in Missouri Valley Conference play.

 

The Redbirds roared to a 7-0 lead in the nightcap of the modified doubleheader, powered by two-run home runs by outfielder Chad Hinshaw and third baseman Ryan Court in the second and fifth innings. UE would battle back though to plate two runs each in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings to close within just a run at 7-6 with no one out in the ninth inning. 

 

After UE scored two quick runs against ISU reliever Kenny Long (eighth save) to start the ninth on an RBI triple by pinch-hitter Ryan Oesterle and an RBI single by senior pinch-hitter Andy Pascoe, Long would record a strikeout and a fly out with a runner on first to bring Wallace to the plate with two outs. Wallace sent a sinking line drive to left-center field which Wiesemeyer circled and then dove forward to try and attempt the catch. After a pause to ensure Wiesemeyer held on, the out signal was issued, preserving the victory for the Redbirds and helping them clinch a share of the regular-season MVC title.

 

“We just dug ourselves too much of a hole in the second game to be able to come back,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “You can not spot a team seven runs and expect to win, especially a good team like Illinois State. I really credit our guys for battling back, especially in the ninth inning against a very tough pitcher in Kenny Long. Now, we need to come to the park tomorrow ready to battle again to try and pick up the series victory and send our seniors out on a good note.”

 

Wallace went 3-for-7 in the two games with a double, a triple, a home run, two runs scored and an RBI to help lead the UE offense on the afternoon. Junior designated hitter Shawn Kuester also had three hits, scored two runs and drove in two more in the two games as well. UE freshman shortstop Eric Stamets also recorded six assists defensively to break former UE standout Robbie Minor’s single-season assist record, as Stamets has now helped on 210 outs in his rookie season at Evansville.

 

Court and Hinshaw each had three hits in the two games for Illinois State, with Court adding a double and home run.

 

With the split of the two games, Evansville moves its record to 29-25 overall and 9-11 in the MVC. Illinois State, meanwhile, improves to 27-21overall and 15-5 in the Valley with the doubleheader split. The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on “Senior Day” at UE. Evansville will honor its six seniors – Alex Acheson, Corey Davisson, Keegan Dennis, Tom Heithoff, Matt Major and Andy Pascoe – in pre-game ceremonies at approximately 12:45 p.m. Saturday’s game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.