NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Kenton Deverman and Chris McCormack combined on a historic no-hit bid and Reid Haire went 4 for 4 to lead the Evansville Purple Aces to a 6-1 victory over the Belmont Bruins in Missouri Valley Conference baseball Sunday at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

The game, which started in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, was decided by a dominant pitching performance and a late offensive outburst. Evansville improved to 15-22 overall, while Belmont fell to 14-26.

The story was Deverman’s mastery on the mound. The Evansville starter was flawless over six innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out nine. The only blemish was a solo home run by Belmont’s Charlie Davis in the third inning, which accounted for the Bruins’ lone run. Deverman did not surrender a hit, walking one and hitting a batter.

His effort came one week after a difficult outing against Southern Illinois, where he allowed four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. On Sunday, he was in complete command.

McCormack relieved Deverman to start the seventh inning and was equally overpowering. He retired all nine batters he faced, striking out six to complete the combined one-hitter. The lone Belmont hit was Davis’s homer off Deverman.

For six innings, Evansville’s offense was held largely in check despite Haire’s perfect day. The center fielder gave the Purple Aces a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the third inning off Belmont starter Tate Marland, who struck out six over three innings of one-run ball.

The game remained a tense 2-1 affair into the eighth inning, with Evansville adding a run in the fifth on a double play. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the eighth, breaking it open for the visitors.

Facing reliever Zane Brown, Haire led off with a double. After two outs, Drew McConnell was intentionally walked, bringing first baseman Reagan Reeder to the plate. Reeder crushed a three-run homer to right field, scoring Haire and McConnell and providing crucial insurance, extending the lead to 6-1.

Evansville added a final run in the ninth on an RBI single by Spike Magill, who went 2 for 4.

Belmont’s offense was stifled beyond Davis, who went 2 for 4 with the home run. The Bruins managed just six hits and struck out 15 times as a team against the Evansville duo.

The victory gave Evansville a 2-1 series win after the teams split the first two games of the weekend set. The Purple Aces next travel to face Southern Indiana on Wednesday. Belmont is scheduled to visit Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday.

According to pregame projections, Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 6-3 Evansville win, while its ELO system gave the Purple Aces a 52.2% probability of victory.