EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Graduate pinch hitter Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) was the walk-off hero for the second time this year at German American Bank Field in the University of Evansville baseball team's 6-5 win over the Indiana State Sycamores.
After struggling at the plate in the first game of the series, the Purple Aces offense answered with eight hits and six runs on Saturday. UE tied the series with the late-game victory as Flaherty added his third home run of the year. Lead-off hitter and centerfielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) had a big night for Evansville as he led the team with three hits and two RBIs.
"Flaherty had the big walk-off to get us back in this series tonight," said Head Coach Wes Carroll. "[Starter Kevin] Reed was outstanding on the mound as well. Tomorrow is a great opportunity to create some momentum to the season!"
The bats were hot early for both sides, as the teams' matched results in the first inning, with one run scored and one left on base. The only difference between the top and the bottom was that the Aces got two hits instead of one from Rumsey and designated hitter Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario). It was a similar second inning, as Indiana State added a run on two hits and a fielder's choice to go up 2-1.
UE was able to answer back and then some in the bottom of the second as the team scored in its first two at-bats. Right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) was hit by a pitch for the first time to lead off the second while catcher Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS) put a double down the left field line, scoring Taubert. Waggoner took second base on a wild pitch and scored Evansville's second run of the inning on a single from Rumsey.
The Aces kept the lead for just over an inning as both offenses went down in order in the third inning. But the Sycamores were able to answer in the top of the fourth as their first baseman hit a two-run shot with two outs on the board. Indiana State had the 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the fourth, but UE again pulled out a two-run inning to get back in front.
Similar to the second inning, Taubert was hit by a pitch to take first to lead off Evansville. The next two Aces batters flew out to left as UE created some two-out magic of its own.
Third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) hit a long single up the middle, giving Taubert enough time to score the tying run. Howard stole second for his fifth steal of the year during Rumsey's turn at the plate. After watching two pitches miss the zone, Rumsey scorched a ball into right center as Howard crossed home for the go-ahead run.
Neither team found the score sheet again over the next four innings. Evansville's defense turned double plays in three straight innings while starting pitcher Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville HS) and reliever Drew Fieger (Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Lincoln Trail CC) combined for five strikeouts. But it was a different story in the ninth inning as the Sycamores had a lead-off single become a run to tie the game.
Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Aces were looking for the game-winning run. And they got it in their first at-bat of the inning. Flaherty faced four pitches before he crushed a ball past the left field wall to give UE the 6-5 victory over Indiana State.
Fieger earned the win for Evansville, improving his record to 2-3 and dropping his ERA to an even 8.00. While starter Reed had another great performance on the mound for the Aces. Through seven innings of work, he scattered eight hits with four runs, two walks, and four strikeouts to bring his season ERA back under six to 5.94. UE also had five other batters record a hit on Friday aside from Rumsey, with four also bringing in RBIs.
The series winner will be decided on Saturday evening as Evansville and the Sycamores battle on national television. The 5 p.m. game will be broadcast on ESPNU for the Aces' first-ever home game on a network broadcast from Charles H. Braun Stadium. The rubber match will feature junior right-hander Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario) for UE as he leads the team in ERA at only 4.57.
