The University of Evansville baseball team is hungry for a “w”. The Purple Aces are coming off a tough road loss to tenth-ranked Vanderbilt Tuesday night in Nashville, 6-1 the final.
Valparaiso has found it tough sledding so far in 2018, as well, dropping their first two conference series as the newest member of the Missouri Valley Conference, falling to Bradley and Southern Illinois. The Crusaders over Power Five schools Oklahoma and Michigan State.
The Purple Aces will open the series with sophomore right hander Adam Lukas, who has settled into his role as starter after starting the season in the bullpen. While coming off his roughest start of the season against Bradley last Friday (1.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER), Lukas had been impressive in his previous two starts. Against Iowa and Creighton, Lukas went a combined 11 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 13 Ks.
Lukas will be opposed by Jon Tieman, who comes into Friday’s series opener with a 3-3 record and a 5.25 ERA.
On Saturday, the Aces send out junior left hander Alex Weigand, who is coming off, arguably his best start, pitching 5.2 innings of shutout work, while holding Bradley to just two hits, striking out five Braves but got a no-decision.
Weigand will be opposed by Trey Ferketic, who comes into his Saturday start with a 4-2 mark and a 4.35 ERA.
Then on Sunday, head coach Wes Carroll hands the ball to freshman Jace Burke. The right hander from Akron, Ohio will be making his eighth appearance and sixth start of the season. He is currently 0-4, with an 8.38 ERA in his first year with Evansville. Last time out, Burke went four innings, giving up four runs, all earned, on four hits against Bradley. He also struck out and walked three batters each.
His counterpart will be Wes Gordon, who is also 0-4 on the season, with a 7.79 ERA.
The University of Evansville Athletic Department will be hosting a pregame tailgates prior to Saturday’s game against Valparaiso. New men’s head basketball head coach Walter McCarty will throw out the ceremonial pitch that day as well.
