Pocket Aces
04-22-2006, 07:29 AM
Game 1 wrap-up:
OMAHA, Neb.—The University of Evansville baseball team pounded out 13 base hits, including seven extra-base hits, on Friday afternoon, and senior RHP Adam Rogers tossed his third complete-game victory in a row, as the Purple Aces posted a 9-2 victory over the host Creighton University Bluejays at the CU Sports Complex in Omaha.
“This was a great team effort,” said UE head coach Dave Schrage. “From an execution standpoint, we really couldn’t play much better as a team.
“Different guys up and down the lineup came up with key base hits today, and Adam Rogers was able to settle down after being up in the strike zone early to toss a great game.”
UE sophomore outfielder Jim Viscomi set the tone for the contest in the first inning, as he roped a triple to center field to lead off the game. Junior outfielder Kern Watts then followed with a solid single to right field to score Viscomi and give UE a 1-0 lead. Watts would eventually come around to score on a Pat Tumilty sacrifice fly to give UE a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
The Purple Aces would add two more runs in the second inning on a lead-off triple by junior Robbie Minor, a sacrifice bunt by fellow junior Ryan Barrett, a double by Viscomi and a sacrifice fly by Watts. Creighton would chip away for single runs in the second and the third innings, including a solo home run by senior third baseman Zach Daeges, to trim UE’s lead to 4-2, before Rogers would settle into a groove and quiet the Bluejay bats.
Rogers (4-3) did not allow a runner to advance past second base following Daeges’ home run, as he scattered four base hits over the final six innings. On the afternoon, Rogers gave up just two runs on nine base hits while striking out four to move into fifth place all-time at UE with 269 career strikeouts.
“I really think that Daeges’ home run was a wake up call for Adam,” said Schrage. “After he gave up the home run, Adam relaxed and was able to work ahead in the count. And for any pitcher, being able to work ahead in the count is key, especially while pitching with a lead.”
Evansville would put the game out of reach in the fifth inning, as the Purple Aces scored three runs against the Creighton bullpen. Tumilty opened UE’s three-run fifth inning rally with a double off of the wall in right field. Senior outfielder Jeff Fontaine and Minor then followed two batters later with back-to-back doubles to give UE a 6-2 lead. Barrett would bring home UE’s final run of the rally with another RBI sacrifice bunt.
Evansville would tack on single runs in the sixth and eighth innings on an RBI base hit by senior Kyle Smith and a wild pitch by CU reliever Pat Venditte to grab a 9-2 lead.
Tumilty launched two doubles for UE, while Viscomi and Minor each collected a double and a triple offensively. In all, eight of UE’s nine starters collected base hits, with Tumilty, Viscomi, Minor, Smith, and Watts all posting two-hit games.
“It was great to see guys like Pat Tumilty, Kern Watts, Jim Viscomi, and Robbie Minor swing the bat well today,” said Schrage. “Pat and Kern have really been swinging it well, and when you are able to get the same type of production out of Jim and Robbie, it makes our lineup very tough to pitch to.
“This was a very good win for us, but the job is not done. We still have two games remaining in the series, and we need to come to the ballpark ready for a battle tomorrow, because Creighton will be ready to play.”
With the victory, Evansville moves into third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, as the Purple Aces are now 23-17 overall and 7-6 in the MVC. Creighton, meanwhile, slips to 21-13 overall and 6-7 in the Valley. The same two teams will continue the series on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., as junior RHP Matt Brinkmann (2-3, 2.91 ERA) will square off with Creighton LHP Marc Lewis (3-0, 3.67 ERA). Saturday’s game
OMAHA, Neb.—The University of Evansville baseball team pounded out 13 base hits, including seven extra-base hits, on Friday afternoon, and senior RHP Adam Rogers tossed his third complete-game victory in a row, as the Purple Aces posted a 9-2 victory over the host Creighton University Bluejays at the CU Sports Complex in Omaha.
“This was a great team effort,” said UE head coach Dave Schrage. “From an execution standpoint, we really couldn’t play much better as a team.
“Different guys up and down the lineup came up with key base hits today, and Adam Rogers was able to settle down after being up in the strike zone early to toss a great game.”
UE sophomore outfielder Jim Viscomi set the tone for the contest in the first inning, as he roped a triple to center field to lead off the game. Junior outfielder Kern Watts then followed with a solid single to right field to score Viscomi and give UE a 1-0 lead. Watts would eventually come around to score on a Pat Tumilty sacrifice fly to give UE a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
The Purple Aces would add two more runs in the second inning on a lead-off triple by junior Robbie Minor, a sacrifice bunt by fellow junior Ryan Barrett, a double by Viscomi and a sacrifice fly by Watts. Creighton would chip away for single runs in the second and the third innings, including a solo home run by senior third baseman Zach Daeges, to trim UE’s lead to 4-2, before Rogers would settle into a groove and quiet the Bluejay bats.
Rogers (4-3) did not allow a runner to advance past second base following Daeges’ home run, as he scattered four base hits over the final six innings. On the afternoon, Rogers gave up just two runs on nine base hits while striking out four to move into fifth place all-time at UE with 269 career strikeouts.
“I really think that Daeges’ home run was a wake up call for Adam,” said Schrage. “After he gave up the home run, Adam relaxed and was able to work ahead in the count. And for any pitcher, being able to work ahead in the count is key, especially while pitching with a lead.”
Evansville would put the game out of reach in the fifth inning, as the Purple Aces scored three runs against the Creighton bullpen. Tumilty opened UE’s three-run fifth inning rally with a double off of the wall in right field. Senior outfielder Jeff Fontaine and Minor then followed two batters later with back-to-back doubles to give UE a 6-2 lead. Barrett would bring home UE’s final run of the rally with another RBI sacrifice bunt.
Evansville would tack on single runs in the sixth and eighth innings on an RBI base hit by senior Kyle Smith and a wild pitch by CU reliever Pat Venditte to grab a 9-2 lead.
Tumilty launched two doubles for UE, while Viscomi and Minor each collected a double and a triple offensively. In all, eight of UE’s nine starters collected base hits, with Tumilty, Viscomi, Minor, Smith, and Watts all posting two-hit games.
“It was great to see guys like Pat Tumilty, Kern Watts, Jim Viscomi, and Robbie Minor swing the bat well today,” said Schrage. “Pat and Kern have really been swinging it well, and when you are able to get the same type of production out of Jim and Robbie, it makes our lineup very tough to pitch to.
“This was a very good win for us, but the job is not done. We still have two games remaining in the series, and we need to come to the ballpark ready for a battle tomorrow, because Creighton will be ready to play.”
With the victory, Evansville moves into third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, as the Purple Aces are now 23-17 overall and 7-6 in the MVC. Creighton, meanwhile, slips to 21-13 overall and 6-7 in the Valley. The same two teams will continue the series on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., as junior RHP Matt Brinkmann (2-3, 2.91 ERA) will square off with Creighton LHP Marc Lewis (3-0, 3.67 ERA). Saturday’s game