EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In what was a pitcher's duel for the second consecutive game, the University of Evansville dropped a 2-1 decision to UIC on Saturday afternoon as the Flames evened the series.
Tanner Graham (Rocheport, Mo./Hickman) and Chris McCormack (Naperville, Ill./Iowa Central CC) were excellent on the mound for Evansville, limiting the Flames to two runs on five hits.
Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) had two hits for the second consecutive game to lead the Aces offensively, extending his reached base streak to 41 games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Following a delayed start time, Graham settled in early by stranding a Flame on base in each of the first two innings before using a double play to strand a pair in the third.
Evansville got on the board in the third by manufacturing a run. Cooper Rhodes (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Simon Schulz (Evansville, Ind./Memorial). Magill then moved Rhodes to third with a single and would come around to score on a sac fly from Reid Haire (Hudson, N.C./Charlotte) to give the Aces a 1-0 lead.
UIC responded in the fifth, however, taking advantage of two HBPs to plate two runs and take the lead.
Graham responded with a zero in the sixth, finishing his afternoon with six strong innings.
Evansville threatened in the sixth, putting two men on with one out, but stranded runners on second and third to keep the score 2-1.
McCormack took over in relief in the seventh and struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning. In the eighth, McCormack found himself in a bases loaded jam, but came up with a big strikeout to get out of it.
McCormack came up with another zero in the ninth to give the Aces a chance in the home half, but the Flames retired the side in order to secure the win.
UP NEXT
Evansville and UIC meet again on Sunday afternoon for the rubber match. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
