PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team exploded for nine runs in the first three innings on Friday night, and then held off a late charge by the homestanding Bradley Braves for a 9-7 series-opening victory at Dozier Park in Peoria, Illinois.
The Purple Aces opened the game with three runs in the first inning to grab a lead it would never lose. Senior outfielder Kip Fougerousse and graduate designated hitter Chase Hug hit back-to-back RBI doubles into the left-center field gap to open the scoring, before a run-scoring error added UE's third run in the first inning.
Bradley would get a run back in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by first baseman Timmy O'Brien, but UE starter Kenton Deverman would hold the Braves scoreless through the next four innings while his teammates would explode for six runs in the third inning.
After a pair of walks to open the inning, graduate third baseman Brent Widder produced an RBI single through the left-side of the infield to open the six-run frame. Another Bradley error on a hard-hit ball by UE junior first baseman Cal McGinnis scored another run, before graduate catcher Brendan Hord followed two batters later with an RBI single to right field to give UE a 6-1 lead. Senior shortstop Simon Scherry then blasted a three-run home run to left field to give UE a 9-1 advantage and end the night for Bradley starter Noah Edders (4-5).
Deverman (5-1) would cruise through the first five innings with a 9-1 lead, before the Braves would rally for four runs in the sixth inning to cut UE's lead to 9-5. O'Brien would launch his second home run of the game as part of a two-run seventh inning for Bradley to get back within two runs at 9-7. But, that would be as close as the Braves would get, as junior reliever Drew Fieger worked a scoreless eighth inning, and senior Jakob Meyer recorded a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the year.
Hug led Evansville's offense by going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Scherry added three RBI, as he homered in his second-straight game.
With the victory, Evansville improved to 20-17 overall and 8-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, as UE picked up its sixth-straight victory, and tenth win in the last 11 contests. Bradley, meanwhile, dropped to 10-25 overall and 4-9 in the MVC with the loss. The series will continue on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., with graduate left-hander Donovan Schultz expected to earn the start for UE. Saturday's game can be heard live on 107.1 FM-WJPS and seen live on ESPN+.
