The University of Evansville baseball squad delivered a decisive performance on Tuesday, downing sixth‑seeded Illinois State 6‑3 in an elimination game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
McCormack's Masterpiece
Right‑hander Chris McCormack turned in a career‑high 11 strikeouts over 109 pitches, surrendering only two walks while completing nine innings. His effort marked the first full nine‑inning game by an Ace since Kenton Deverman on April 26, 2024, and it set the tone for the team's rally.
The Aces' offense clicked in the seventh and eighth frames, plating four runs to turn a 3‑3 tie into a 6‑3 lead. Charlie Longmeier went 5‑for‑5, narrowly missing the cycle, and added a pivotal double in the seventh that knotted the score before Drew McConnell's two‑bagger and Reagan Reeder's 11th home run of the season stretched the advantage.
Spike Magill's single in the seventh brought the Aces back ahead, and Simon Schulz's infield single in the eighth added another run. McCormack capped the night by retiring the side on six pitches in the ninth, sealing the victory.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Evansville will close out day two of the tournament against Southern Illinois later this afternoon. The upcoming matchup promises another test for a pitching staff that has already demonstrated resilience and depth.