Life in the Valley

Purple Aces Stay Perfect Via a 10-Run Frame

With a 2-0 lead cut in half after Zane Zielinski’s single and Kendal Ewell’s RBI double, Evansville starter Donovan Schultz had one more tough hitter to face in UIC’s Jackson Bessette. But if the Flames were thinking this was their moment, Schultz would have none of it.

Bessette fouled off a 1-0 pitch, then Schultz missed outside with a fast ball. Bessette, who for a time was one of the leading hitters in the conference this season, swung through the 2-1 pitch. On Schultz’s 87th pitch of the game, Bessette missed what looked like a change-up, ending the threat and leaving UE with a 2-1 lead.

Schultz launched his left arm skyward and charged up his teammates, bouncing off the field to cheers from a partisan UE crowd. Whatever adrenaline Schultz passed on to his teammates, it became nightmare fuel for UIC.

Evansville’s offense responded with 10 runs in the bottom of the 6th, putting the game way out of reach and 12-1, run-rule, 7-inning win – Evansville’s 2nd of the tournament.

Brendan Hord and Harrison Taubert hit 2-run homers in the 6th, while Kip Fougerousse doubled not once but twice. Simon Scherry and Brent Widder doubled, as well, giving UE 8 for the game and 2nd alone in the country with 144 for the season. The 8 doubles also tied an MVC Tournament record. Evansville (33-23) even scored 2 runs on a deep sac fly to center. Mark Shallenberger, who was hit by pitches twice in the inning, scored from third, then Fougerousse steamed around third and beat the throw for UE’s final run.

Reliever Jace Kressin struck out Jack Snyder swinging for the final out. UE is now 2-0 in the tournament and will play 2 games Saturday. A win over Illinois State in the first would give UE the chance to play for the tournament title Saturday night.

Widder and Taubert each drove in 3 runs for Evansville, which has scored 29 runs in just 14 innings of play so far in the tournament. Cal McGinnis had 3 hits to lead the Purple Aces, while Fougerousse, Hord, and Taubert all added 2.

Zielinski went 2-for-3 with a run for the Flames. But Ewell’s double was UIC’s only other hit off Schultz, who walked 3 and struck out 5 on 87 pitches (4.83 pitches per out).

Game 10
UIC 000 002 0 – 1 3 0 (35-19)
UE 010 01(10)x – 12 11 0 (33-23)
W: Schultz (5-2)
L: Bak (4-3)
S: None
HR: Hord, UE (8); Taubert, UE (8).