NASHVILLE –  The University of Evansville baseball team won their fourth consecutive MVC series on Sunday afternoon, defeating Belmont in the rubber match by a score of 6-1.
 
Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte) went 4-for-4 at the plate, including his third home run of the week, to lead the Aces at the plate. Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) delivered the big blow for Evansville, crushing a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth to extend the Aces' lead to four.
 
Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) was outstanding the mound, getting the win with six strong innings. The left-hander limited the Bruins to one run on five hits, striking out a season-high nine. Chris McCormack (Naperville, Ill./Iowa Central CC) dominated in relief, picking up a nine out save with six strikeouts while allowing only one hit.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game was a pitcher's duel early, with Deverman and Belmont starter Tate Marland trading zeroes in the first two innings of play.
 
Evansville got on the board first in the third inning when Haire launched a no doubt solo home run to right field. The home run was his third of the week. Belmont answered right back in the home half of the inning, using a solo home run of their own to tie things up at one.
 
Following 1-2-3 innings from both sides in the fourth, Evansville regained the lead in the fifth when Cooper Rhodes (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a bases loaded double play.
 
Belmont threatened in the home half of the fifth, putting two on with two outs. However, Deverman delivered a strikeout to escape. Deverman found himself in another jam in the sixth, with runners at the corners and nobody out. Once again, Deverman found a way to escape, striking out two before inducing a groundout to keep Evansville in front.
 
McCormack took over for Deverman in the seventh, striking out the side.
 
Haire's big day continue in the top of the eighth, as the Aces' center field led the inning off with a double. Following a fly out and a ground out, the Bruins elected to intentionally walk Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) and pitch to Reeder. Reeder made them pay, crushing a three-run home run to right center field and make the score 6-1 in favor of Evansville.
 
The Aces added another insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single from Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) before McCormack shut the door in the ninth to seal the series victory.
 
With the win, Evansville has now won all four of their MVC series and sit in a three-way tie with Murray State and Indiana State atop the conference standings.
 
UP NEXT
Evansville will meet crosstown rival USI on Wednesday at USI Baseball Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.