Aces ride momentum into matchup with Austin Peay

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off a three-game sweep of No. 18 Tulane, the University of Evansville baseball team opens the week with a Wednesday matchup at Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. with first pitch at 6 PM.

Previewing the Matchup: Austin Peay

• The Aces and Governors are meeting for the 61st time in series history with Evansville owning a 36-22-2 advantage in the all-time series.
• Austin Peay comes into the midweek matchup with a 7-10 overall record having lost eight of their last nine contests.
• Following the midweek matchup with Austin Peay, the Aces continue their 14-game road trip with a three-game weekend set at Northwestern on Saturday and Sunday.

Smith nabs MVC Pitcher of the Week Honors

• For the first time in his career, University of Evansville baseball sophomore pitcher Nick Smith has been named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Pitcher of the Week, it was announced in a release from the conference office on Monday afternoon.
• Putting on a show against the 18th-ranked team in the nation, Smith showed the potential he has flashed all of his career.
• In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader with #18 Tulane, Smith threw 6.1 innings, allowing six hits and just one run, while striking-out seven as Evansville captured a 5-1 win to sweep the doubleheader en route to a series sweep.
• On the season, Smith is fifth on the team with a 3.68 ERA, which is best amongst Evansville’s starters.
• In his two outings against ranked opponents, Smith has pitched 10.2 innings allowing just three runs and striking-out nine.
• The pitcher of the week honor is the second straight for the Aces after Shane Gray captured the award a week ago.

Sweeping Tulane

• Evansville’s sweep of #18 Tulane featured a handful of impressive feats.
• The doubleheader sweep on Saturday earned the Aces their first back-to-back wins over a ranked opponent since taking a pair of games from No. 21 Wichita State in 2006.
• UE’s series sweep from the 18th-ranked Green Wave is believed to be the first in Evansville’s baseball history.

Bats are Alive

• Following a slow start to the season, Evansville’s bats came alive in a big way this past week.
• Over the four game slate last week, four Aces finished with a batting average of .400 or better and Evansville generated an average of 7.25 runs per game.
• On Sunday, the Aces captured a 15-5 win over #18 Tulane, their most runs scored in a game this season.