Aces welcome SIU for non-conference series

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Evansville and Salukis set to meet for second time this season

 Closing an eight-game home stand, the University of Evansville meets with Southern Illinois for the second time this season, this time in non-conference play, for a four-game series at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

Evansville vs. SIU | May 7, 8, & 9
Date | Time Fri., May 7 | 2 & 6 PM
Sat., May 8| 1 PM
Sun. May 9 | 1 PM
Location Evansville, Ind.
Site German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium
May 7, 8, & 9 Evansville vs. SIU
Follow Along Live Stats | ESPN3 (Game One) | ESPN3 (Game Two) | ESPN3 (Game Three) | ESPN3 (Game Four) | Listen (Game One, Two, and Three)
Evansville Baseball Site | Twitter | Schedule Poster | Game Notes

Previewing the Matchup: SIU

  • The Aces and Salukis are meeting for the second series of the season this weekend, this one of the non-conference variety.
  • SIU owns a 112-65 advantage all-time, including winning the two sides previous series earlier this season, 3-1.
  • The Aces are looking to earn their first series win over the Salukis since the 2015 season when Evansville took two-of-thre games from SIU on May 1-3 at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
  • The Salukis enter on a hot streak again, winning five-straight and coming off a four-game series sweep of Missouri State last weekend. Prior to the sweep of Missouri State, SIU had won just two of its last eight contests.
  • Evansville has battled through a difficult portion of its MVC slate and has kept alive a spot in the Conference’s top five. The Aces are currently 6-13 in league play with SIU currently sitting in the coveted fifth spot at 10-10.

Challenging the Best

  • Last weekend, the Aces pushed league-leading Dallas Baptist to the brink in three of the four games in the series, grabbing a win in Saturday’s first game.
  • On Friday night, Evansville took a 1-0 lead before dropping the game 2-1 after giving-up a pair of runs in the eighth.
  • On Saturday, the Aces trailed 6-3 in game two before getting a two-run homer from Mark Shallenberger to close within one run, but could not get any closer.

Owning the Field

  • Evansville has excelled at taking care of the ball on the defensive end this season.
  • The Aces hold a .976 fielding percentage, the 33rd-best percentage in the nation and second in The Valley behind Indiana State.

Troy Nears Record Book

  • Playing in his fifth season in white and purple, redshirt senior Troy Beilsmith has amassed gaudy numbers for his career.
  • The right fielder sits within striking distance of a pair of career top 10s, currently having 144 runs scored in his career, 15 off of tying Bobby Hodges for ninth all-time.
  • Beilsmith also sits close to entering the top 10 in doubles, recording 43 in his career so far, nine off tying Rob Maurer for 10th all-time in program history.
  • Beilsmith has already set the career record at Evansville with 65 hit-by-pitch in his career, tying himself for second all-time in MVC history.