EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a Missouri Valley Conference matchup defying pregame projections, the Evansville Purple Aces rode a dominant pitching performance from Tanner Graham and a decisive four-run seventh inning to a 4-0 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday evening at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

The win, played under the lights, gave Evansville (7-17, 2-3 MVC) a series lead after taking the opener on Friday. It also snapped a three-game skid for the Purple Aces and handed Illinois State (16-10, 1-4) its fourth consecutive loss. The result was a stark contrast to the Interstat game simulator’s projection of an 8-2 Redbirds victory, which had given Illinois State a 53% probability to win based on ELO ratings.

The story for the first six innings was a masterful pitcher’s duel between Evansville’s Tanner Graham and Illinois State’s Michael Addari. Both starters were nearly untouchable, weaving through lineups with ease.

Addari was brilliant for the Redbirds, tossing six no-hit innings. He walked none, struck out five and faced just one batter over the minimum, exiting with the game locked in a scoreless tie. His counterpart, Graham, was equally effective, scattering six hits over seven shutout innings. He struck out eight Redbirds and worked around traffic, stranding seven Illinois State baserunners, including two in the first and two more in the fifth.

The stalemate was broken in the bottom of the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Evansville’s Ximi Baftiri reached on a third-base error, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a two-out, infield RBI single by Charlie Longmeier off Addari, giving the Purple Aces a 1-0 lead on an unearned run.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the bottom of the seventh, transforming a narrow deficit into a comfortable lead for Evansville. After Addari departed, Illinois State reliever Nolan Girard struggled with his command. Harrison Taubert singled, Ryan Seddon was hit by a pitch, and both runners executed a double steal. After a strikeout, Girard walked Wyatt Pennington to load the bases and then hit Simon Schulz with a pitch, forcing in Taubert. Spike Magill followed with the game’s biggest hit, a two-run single to left field that scored Pennington and Seddon, stretching the lead to 4-0. Trenton Roehler entered and recorded the final out to stop the bleeding, but the damage was done.

Evansville’s bullpen sealed the shutout. Kellen Roberts earned the save with two perfect innings of relief, striking out two. Illinois State managed seven hits total, with Brayden Bakes going 2-for-4, but could not advance a runner past second base after the fifth inning. The Redbirds went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

Graham, who had allowed three earned runs in five innings in his previous start at California Baptist, earned the win for Evansville. Magill finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Longmeier also had two hits and an RBI.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon at Braun Stadium. Illinois State will look to avoid the series sweep before returning home to face Illinois on Tuesday. Evansville will aim for the sweep before a busy Tuesday with games against Butler and Indiana.