EVANSVILLE, Ind.  –  The University of Evansville baseball team picked up their first win over a ranked opponent since 2024 on Saturday, blanking 18^th-ranked Kentucky in game two of the day's doubleheader for a 1-0 win. The Aces dropped the first game of the day, 5-3.

Max Hansmann (Elmhurst, Ill./York) turned in another quality start in game one, tossing five innings while allowing just one unearned run. Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte) collected two hits and drove in a run, while Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind./North) also had a two-hit game. Chris McCormack (Naperville, Ill./Iowa Central CC) took the loss for Evansville, while Ryan Mullan got the win for Kentucky.
 
In game two, Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) and Tanner Graham (Rocheport, Mo./Hickman) dominated on the mound, limiting the Wildcats to four hits for the Aces' first shutout of the year. The shutout also marked the first time that Kentucky has been blanked since being shut out by LSU in eight innings on May 22, 2024. Nehls drove in the lone run of the game with a two-out single in the second inning. Reed got the win for Evansville, while Nate Harris took the loss for the Wildcats.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
Evansville struck first in game one, with Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind.) doubling to left center and coming around to score on a single by Wyatt Pennington (Avon, Ind./Avon) and an error by the Wildcats' right fielder.

In the third inning, Hansmann ran into a jam, with runners on second and third and one out. However, the senior got out of it, picking up a strikeout before inducing a groundout.

Kentucky got on the board in the fourth inning, using a two-out error to plate a run. However, the Aces responded in the home half, as Haire beat out a bunt single to plate Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois).

In his final inning of the day, Hansmann again escaped a jam, using a 1-6-3 double play to keep the Aces in front.

Evansville added a run in the fifth, taking advantage of a walk and a HBP with a sac fly from Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs).
 
Facing a 3-1 deficit, Kentucky continued to fight offensively and eventually broke through scoring once in the seventh, twice in the eighth, and once in the ninth to capture a come-from-behind win.


HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The second game of the day was the ultimate pitcher's duel, with Evansville's Reed and Kentucky's Harris battling from the start. In the second inning, the Aces took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity, putting two on with two outs on a pair of walks before Nehls lofted a single into center, driving in Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista).

The one-run lead was all Reed needed, as the left-hander retired six of the next seven Wildcasts he faced. In the fifth, Kentucky put runners on the corners with two down, but Reed induced a fly out to keep it a 1-0 game.

Kentucky put another man on in the sixth, but Reed rolled a 6-4-3 double play ball to get through his sixth scoreless inning, departing with a sparkling line of five strikeouts, three hits allowed, two walks, and no runs.

With his team looking to close out the win, Graham took over on the mound in the seventh and rose to the occasion, retiring the 'Cats in order in the seventh before working around a pair of walks in the eighth to put up another zero. Graham returned in the ninth looking for his first career save and delivered again, stranding the tying run at second to secure the win and the shutout.

UP NEXT
Evansville is back in action on Tuesday for another SEC test, traveling to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt. First pitch is set for 4:30 PM.