UIC Downs NIU While Evansville Falls at Purdue
UIC overcame a 4-1 deficit with a pair of runs in each of the 6th and 7th innings to defeat Northern Illinois, 5-4, Wednesday night in Chicago. Ryan Nagelbach’s ground out started the comeback in the 6th, as it allowed A.J. Henkle to score and cut the Huskies’ lead to 4-2. Later in the 6th, A.J. Taylor’s sac fly scored Kendall Ewell to bring the Flames within 1.
In the 7th, Henkle’s 2-run double was the difference maker, giving UIC a 5-4 lead as James Harris and Vidal Colon both scored. NIU put runners on in both the 8th and 9th innings, but were unable to cash in and equalize. Colon went 2-for-3 for the Flames, while Henkle added 3 walks to his double.
Zak Gould came on in relief in the 1st after NIU had taken a 3-0 lead with 0 outs and pitched 3 scoreless innings. The UIC bullpen got all 27 ours, allowing just 7 hits, 1 run, and striking out 10. Presley Wachowiak (1-2) got the win while Reece Lawler kept himself at the top of the conference in saves, earning his 7th.
Purdue 10, Evansville 6: The Boilermakers (26-15) scored in each of the first 5 innings, building a 9-2 lead en route to a 10-6 victory over in-state foe Evansville Wednesday. The loss ended Evansville’s 8-game winning streak but was just UE’s 2nd defeat in its last 14 games.
The Purple Aces (22-18, 10-5 MVC) got off to a good start in the top of the 1st, scoring twice. Chase Hug’s RBI single plated Mark Shallenberger to open the scoring, then Brent Widder’s fielder’s choice brought him Kip Fougerousse.
But that was about the end of the good news for Evansville, as Purdue responded with 4 runs in the 1st, 2 more in the 2nd, and 1 each in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings to take command. Keenan Taylor, Luke Gaffney, Camden Gasser, and Connor Caskenette all drove in 2 runs each for the Boilermakers, while Gasser led the way with 3 hits.
Notable for Evansville was a productive game from Hug, who went 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs. Hug, a grad student from Indianapolis, had his 2nd 3-hit game of the season (the other was April 13 vs. Illinois State) and his 3rd game with at least 3 RBIs. Hug’s average is now up to .295 in 18 games, with 3 homers, 6 doubles, and 17 RBIs. Hug was a big presence for UE last season, hitting .315 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs to help lead the Purple Aces to the MVC Tournament championship game vs. Indiana State.
Shallenberger and Fougerousse had 2 hits each for the Purple Aces.
Today on Valley Diamonds: All is quiet.
If You’re Starved for College Baseball: Four ranked teams are in action tonight on the ESPN family of networks, including TV braodcasts for #14 Virginia at Boston College (6 p.m., ACC Network); #23 Alabama at Ole Miss (6:30 p.m., ESPNU); and Missouri at #3 Tennessee (6:30 p.m., SEC Network). If you’d rather stare at a device, ESPN+ has BYU at 19th-ranked Oklahoma State (6 p.m.).
On Deck: The Friday Stat Pack!
Life in the Valley 
Leave a comment