EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team capped off its non-conference competition with a bang in a 18-8 win at Southern Indiana.

The Purple Aces returned to the River City with a vengeance as they split the series with the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles on Tuesday night. Despite not scoring in the first half of the game, UE's offense exploded for three five plus run innings to win its final non-conference game of 2025. Evansville was led at the plate by senior second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) who went three-of-six with one RBI and two runs scored.

The Aces got off to a slow start, not having more than four at bats for the first five innings of the night. UE hit into two separate double plays while only registering three hits from McGinnis, catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) and center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS). USI on the other hand took advantage of Evansville's slow start recording at least a run in the first six innings.

The Eagles had a comfortable lead halfway through the game at 7-0, going into the top of the sixth inning. But the game's momentum took a sharp 180 in the second half as the Aces offense exploded for 11 hits and 18 runs. UE began its offensive comeback with a lead-off single from third baseman Ben Stuart (Mason, Ohio / Wiliam Mason HS).

Evansville's quickly had the bases loaded as left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) was walked and McGinnis connected on his second single of the night. The Aces first run scored when shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) was hit by a pitch to advance everyone a base. UE walked in two more runs as Southern Indiana's pitching allowed three straight free bases.

Evansville added a fourth straight run as Rumsey had a fielder's choice, leaving third base open. With two runners on, first baseman Kevin McCormick (Orland Park, Ill. / St. Laurence HS) put a single into no-man's land in left field making it a one-run game. The Aces tied the game up as Stuart had his second hit of the inning, scoring McCormick for an even 7-7 score.

USI retook its lead in the bottom of the inning scoring a run on two hits and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. UE responded right back in the seventh tying the game back up on an RBI single from designated hitter Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS). Evansville's defense recorded its first scoreless frame in the bottom of the seventh, limiting the Eagles to only a hit and stranding their lone runner.

The Aces had another lead-off single in the eighth as McCormick had his second hit of the game. UE's next two batters got a free base on both a hit by pitch and a walk to load the bases for another inning. Evansville took its first lead of the game when McGinnis had his third single to right, making it 9-8. The Aces added another run right after as catcher Kaleb Wilkey (Manhattan, Ill. / Lincoln-Way West HS) hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

UE wasn't done scoring there as two at-bats later right fielder Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) had a long single to left field with the bases loaded. Nehls single scored both Longmeier and McGinnis to put Evansville up by four runs as the team loaded the bases again with a hit by pitch. The Aces added one more run when McConnell scored on a wild pitch to make it a 13-8 UE lead.

 Evansville's defense only allowed a hit in the bottom of the eighth to Southern Indiana, keeping its five-run lead intact. It didn't stay a five-run lead for long as the Aces loaded the bases for the fourth time on two walks and a McConnell single. A sac fly scored another UE run while Evansville also scored on two more wild pitches.

The Aces capped off their scoring in a big way as Rumsey hit his fourth home run of the year past the center field wall. Rumsey's bomb scored two more runs making it an 18-8 UE lead with a half inning to go. The Eagles had a hit after a lead-off out to try and get close to Evansville. But the Aces defense and closer Ethan Bell (Huntingburg, Ind. / Southridge HS0 shut the door on a potential USI comeback with back-to-back strikeouts.

UE will close out the regular season at home hosting the Bradley Braves. The series has heavy postseason implications for Evansville, who need to take two out of three games from Bradley to make the MVC Tournament. The Aces will begin the monumental series on Thursday night with first pitch on May 15 set for 6 p.m.