The Aces end a five-game homestand on Tuesday evening against Southeast Missouri. UE played a game at SEMO three weeks ago for the first game of a home-and-home series. Evansville struggled in Cape Girardeau, losing the game to the Redhawks 17-6 in seven innings. But the Aces are looking to even the series with SEMO in Evansville with a win. Currently, the Redhawks lead by a game in the River City, but UE won the most recent meeting at German American Bank Field last year by a run.
Since the team’s first meeting three weeks ago, SEMO has had eight wins and only four losses. The Redhawks are currently on a five-game winning streak after sweeping Western Illinois in conference play while taking a midweek game against Middle Tennessee and the final game of a three-game series against UT Martin. SEMO has mostly been led by their pitching staff as the Redhawks lead the country in walks allowed per nine innings by only averaging just under three walks in a full game.
UE had success hitting the long ball over the weekend against Valparaiso. Evansville had a home run in all three games facing the Beacons’ pitchers while also having only the second game this season with multiple home runs on Sunday. Right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) and catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) had the Aces two home runs on Sunday. Flaherty’s home run was his first of the season to win the game for UE in the bottom of the ninth.
Sophomore left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) has been successful at the plate in conference action. Longmeier has a .545 MVC batting average, connecting on 12 of his 22 at-bats in six games. The sophomore leads Evansville in conference games at the plate in both batting average and doubles, with six two-base hits. And with a second home run hit on the season over the weekend, Longmeier is slugging .955 against Valley opponents.
