MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Evansville baseball saw a performance for the ages from Chris McCormack (Naperville, Ill./Iowa Central CC) on Thursday afternoon, who tossed a 109-pitch complete game to power the Aces to a 6-3 win over sixth-seeded Illinois State in an elimination game at the MVC Tournament. Evansville advances to play in Thursday's nightcap at 9:15 p.m. in Murray, Ky.
Making just his second start of the season, McCormack struck out a career-high 11 while limiting the Redbirds to three runs while allowing just two free passes. The complete game was the first nine-inning complete game by an Ace since Kenton Deverman on April 26, 2024.
At the plate, Evansville tallied 12 hits and scored twice in the seventh and twice in the eighth to take the win. Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) went a perfect 5-for-5 and finished a home run short of the cycle, becoming the first Ace since Matt Flaherty went 5-for-5 on May 16, 2025. Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) had two doubles, while Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) launched his 11
th home run of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State jumped out to an early lead, using a pair of two-out hits to score the first run of the game.
After a pair of zeroes from McCormack, Evansville fought back in the third, starting with a triple from Longmeier before coming across to score on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, McConnell drove in Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) with a double to put the Aces in front, 2-1.
Illinois State responded in the fourth, using an RBI single to tie things up at two. The Redbirds seemed to have a big inning brewing the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but McCormack limited the damage, allowing just a sacrifice fly.
Longmeier continued his big day in the bottom of the seventh, hooking a double down the right field line for an RBI, tying the game at three. In the next at bat, Magill singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Longmeier and putting the Aces back in front.
Following a third consecutive scoreless inning from McCormack in the top of the eighth, the Aces found two crucial insurance runs, starting with a no doubt solo home run from Reeder. Later in the inning, Simon Schulz (Evansville, Ind./Memorial) hustled out an infield single to score another run, giving the Aces a 3-run advantage.
Looking to complete Evansville first complete game in the MVC Tournament since 2017, McCormack retired the side on six pitches in the ninth to seal the win and keep Evansville's season alive.
UP NEXT
Evansville will return to action tonight to wrap up day two of the MVC Tournament in another elimination game. First pitch is set for 9:15 p.m. from Murray, Ky., with the opponent to be determined.
