The University of Evansville baseball team re-enters Missouri Valley Conference play with a super showdown against Indiana State this weekend at Charles H. Braun Stadium. Due to inclement weather, game one of the series has been moved to 5 p.m. Saturday, followed by a doubleheader Sunday, with a start time of 12 p.m.
New Schedule –
Game 1 – Saturday @ 5 p.m.
Game 2 – Sunday @ 12 p.m..
Game 3 – Sunday @ 3:45 pm (approx.)
SETTING THE SCENE: • The Aces (18-15) are coming off a tough week, which saw UE suffer it’s fi rst winless week of the season, concluding with a four game sweep at the hands of Indiana, capped by a tough 6-5 extra-inning loss at the hands of the Hoosiers last Sunday in Bloomington. However. Evansville bounced back in a big way,
out-slugging Murray State in a 16-12 non-conference road victory.
THE OPPOSITION: • Indiana State (27-8) had won five of its last seven games before falling to 6th ranked Vanderbilt in a 7-1 midweek road loss in Nashville Tuesday night. Still, the Sycamores have had impressive victories over Big Ten opponents Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan, as well as a three game sweep of Rutgers. ISU
bounced back from a series loss to Missouri State in their Missouri Valley Conference opener to sweep Valparaiso this past weekend.
THE STARTING ROTATION: • The Aces will open the weekend with junior right-hander Adam Lukas (4-3, 4.74 ERA) taking the hill for UE. In his last start, the highly-touted ace pitched well, however a couple of mistakes and a lack run support led to a 5-0 loss to Indiana. Indiana State will counter with LHP Triston Polley (5-0, 1.78
ERA).
On Saturday, the Aces will send out junior left-hander Nathan Croner (5-3, 3.50 ERA) to face the Sycamores. Last time out,Croner pitched six strong innings against Indiana, allowing three runs on eight hits, but was a tough luck loser in a 5-1 setback. ISU will counter with RHP Collin Liberatore (6-0, 2.89 ERA).
On Sunday, the Aces will once again turn to senior right-hander Justin Hayden (1-1, 4.01 ERA) to make his second start in a row. Last weekend, Hayden recovered from a rocky start to toss two scoreless frames, in all giving up four runs on five hits, while striking out three. The Sycamores will counter with RHP Tyler Whitbread (5-1, 2.60 ERA).
ALL-TIME SERIES: • The Aces and Sycamore have faced each other 169 times over the years, with ISU holding a 105-64 edge in the series. The last time the two teams met, Indiana State took the series two games to one from Evansville in Terre Haute. The Sycamores took two of three from UE the last time this intra-
state series was played at Braun Stadium in 2017.
