EVANSVILLE, Ind. –  The University of Evansville baseball team clinched their first MVC series win of the season on Saturday afternoon, shutting out Illinois State 4-0 at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

Freshman right-hander Tanner Graham (Rocheport, Mo./Hickman) turned in the best outing of his young career, shutting out the Redbirds over a career-high seven innings, striking out a career-high eight with no walks. Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) finished the job for the Aces, blanking Illinois State over the final two innings to extend Evansville's scoreless inning streak to 17.

Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vistra) had another big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) also had two hits and drove in the first run of the day, while Simon Schulz (Evansville, Ind./Memorial) also picked up an RBI.

Graham picked up his first career win, while Michael Addari took the loss for the Redbirds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Graham faced trouble in the first when the Redbirds loaded the bases with two outs. However, Graham snagged a line drive for the third out to end the threat.

Both pitchers settled in from there, with both offenses combining for five singles as the game remained scoreless through the fifth inning.

Graham faced a threat in the sixth inning, with the Redbirds putting a man with two outs. Graham would end the threat, though, picking up a big strikeout to keep the game scoreless.

Evansville manufactured the first run of the game in the home half of the sixth, starting with a sac bunt by Schulz after Ximi Baftiri (Morris, Ill./Morris) reached on an error. With two outs in the inning, Longmeier slapped a ground ball up the middle and hustled down the line for an infield single, driving in the game's first run.

Graham finished his day in the seventh, sitting down the Redbirds 1-2-3 to cap a masterful performance.

Evansville put together another rally in the bottom half of the seventh, with Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo./Northeast CC) starting things with a one out single before Ryan Seddon (Joliet, Ill./St. Laurence) was hit by a pitch and a double steal put Taubert and Seddon on second and third. With two outs, Schulz wore an HBP to score a run, and Magill followed with a single to left to drive in two more, pushing the lead to four.

Roberts took over on the mound in the eighth and was lights out, sitting down the Redbirds in order in the eighth before striking out two in the ninth to seal the win.

UP NEXT
Evansville will go for the sweep tomorrow, taking on the Redbirds for game three at Charles H. Braun Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 PM.