KENNESAW, Ga.  –  The University of Evansville baseball team opened their 2026 season on Friday with a pair of games, dropping a 5-2 decision to Marshall in the first game of the day before falling to host Kennesaw State 11-3 in game two.  


GAME 1
In the first game of the 2026 season, the Aces struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but were done in by three Marshall runs in fourth and two in the fifth as they fell to The Herd, 5-2.

Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte) hit his first collegiate home run and scored twice, while Preseason MVC Freshman of the Year Wyatt Pennington (Avon, Ind./Avon) doubled in his first career at-bat to drive in a run. Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) allowed three runs in four innings while striking out four and took the loss, while Marshall's Bryce Blevins earned the win with seven innings of one-run ball.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Evansville grabbed the lead in the top of the first, with Haire reaching base on an error with two outs in the inning before being driven in by Pennington on a double down the left field line.
Deverman cruised on the mound early for the Aces, striking out two in a 1-2-3 first inning before retiring the side in order again in the second. The left-hander allowed his first hit of the day in the third inning, but stranded the runner on second to keep it a 1-0 ballgame.

However, Marshall got to Deverman in the fourth, using a leadoff home run and a two-run blast with two outs in the inning to take a 3-1 lead.
Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario/Frontier CC) came on in relief in the fifth inning and allowed two runs, but posted zeroes in the sixth, seventh and eighth to keep the game at 5-1 heading into the top of the ninth.

Despite being quieted since the first inning, the Aces mustered a comeback effort in the game's final frame. Haire started the rally on a solo shot to right center with one out in the inning, and a pair of two-out singles by Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) and Kirk Weatherford (Clarksville, Tenn./Clarksville) forced a Marshall pitching change. Ximi Baftiri (Morris, Ill./Morris) then drew a walk to load the bases and bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but a groundout left the bases loaded and allowed The Herd to escape with a 5-2 win.
 
GAME 2
The second game of the day was close throughout, with Evansville starting pitcher Max Hansmann (Elmhurst, Ill./York) turning in a quality start

Drew McConnell drove in two runs for the Aces on a double in the third inning to lead the offense. On the mound, Hansmann allowed three runs in six innings of work. The right-hander recorded a new career-high with seven strikeouts while allowing only two walks. Daniel Powell got the win for Kennesaw State, while Chris McCormack (Naperville, Ill./Iowa Central CC) took the loss for Evansville. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went down in order in the first inning, with Hansmann striking out two in the bottom half. Evansville threatened in the top of the second, with Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) delivering a leadoff single and stealing to second to put himself in scoring position.  McConnell drew a walk, followed by a fielder's choice that put men on second and third with one out. Kirk Weatherford drew another walk to load the bases, but a strike out and a flyout kept the Aces off the board.

Kennesaw State struck first in their half of the second, cashing in on a leadoff double and scoring on a fielder's choice.

The Aces responded in the top of the third with a two-on, two-out ground rule double by McConnell, driving in Reid Haire and Wyatt Pennington to give Evansville a 2-1 lead.

With his team ahead by a run, Hansmann settled into a groove in the middle innings. After Kaleb Wilkey (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) threw out a would-be base stealer at second base for the first out in the bottom of the third, Hansmann struck out the final two Owls hitters of the frame to put up a zero. The senior continued to mow down the Kennesaw State lineup in the fourth, striking out the side, and followed it up with another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, giving the Aces a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth.

Evansville generated a two-out rally in the visiting half of the sixth inning, as pinch-hitter Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) drew a walk and advanced to second on a single by Wilkey. With two men on, the Kennesaw State catcher attempted to back-pick Wilkey at first, but the throw got away from the first baseman, allowing McCue to score all the way from second base.

However, Kennesaw State responded in the home half of the inning, using a triple and two doubles to tie things up at three.

McCormack took over on the mound in the seventh, stranding a runner at second base with his second strikeout off the inning to keep it at 3-3. In the eighth, though, the Owls broke the game open, scoring eight times on seven hits to secure an 11-3 win.

UP NEXT
Evansville will battle Marshall again tomorrow at 10 AM Central time before wrapping up the series against Kennesaw State on Sunday at 2 PM Central.