EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team started off the final series of the regular season with a win on Thursday evening, defeating the Murray State Racers by a score of 10-6 at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) had a huge day at the plate for the Aces, going 2-for-4 with a triple, home run and four RBIs. Evansville took advantage of eight walks and six HBPs, including three HBPs drawn by Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) to bring his season total to 25.
Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) was excellent in relief once again for the Aces, picking up the win with 5.1 innings of one-run ball.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Murray State jumped on top in the first inning, taking advantage of two walks to plate a run with a sac fly.
Following zeroes from both teams in the second, the Racers extended their lead in the third, capitalizing on three errors and two walks to go up 5-0.
Evansville got a couple of runs back in the home half of the third, as Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte) singled home a run and Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) drew a bases loaded walk.
The Aces put up a big number on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of five walks and three HBPs to plate four and grab the lead at 6-5.
On the mound, Reed found a groove, posting three consecutive zeroes to keep the Aces in front. Evansville extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with back-to-back singles by McConnell and Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo./Northeast CC) before a sac bunt from Cooper Rhodes (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) put runners on second and third. Reeder took advantage, crushing a line drive past the center fielder to drive in both runs, crusing into third with a triple. The Aces would then play small ball once again, as Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) delivered a perfect drag bunt to score Reeder and make the score 9-5 in favor of the Aces.
Murray State pushed a run across in the seventh, but Reed stranded a pair of Racers in the eighth to close his day with a scoreless inning.
Reeder put an exclamation point on the evening in the bottom of the eighth, lifting his 10
th homer of the year to left field, making the score 10-6.
Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) took over on the mound in the ninth inning and shut the door, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to seal the win.
UP NEXT
Evansville looks to take the series tomorrow as they battle the Racers in game two. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
