EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the second time in the month of April, University of Evansville graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week after slashing an unbelievable .692/1.308/.800 in four games last week for the Purple Aces.
Shallenberger went 9-for-13 on the week overall with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI. He had a pair of games in which he reached base in all five trips to the plate, including going 4-for-4 with two home runs in Sunday’s series finale against Missouri State. Overall, he reached base in 16 of his 20 trips to the plate, and did not go more than two trips to home plate without reaching base.
The monster week helped Shallenberger take over the top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average (.389), slugging percentage (.720), on-base percentage (.535), and OPS (1.255). He also ranks in the nation’s top 75 in all three main categories (average, on-base, and slugging), ranking as high as 12th nationally in on-base percentage at .535. He has reached base safely in 41 of UE’s 43 games this season, and in 57 of his last 59 games overall dating back to last year.
Shallenberger and the Purple Aces will try to wrap up the month of April on a winning note on Tuesday night, as UE will travel southwest to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to battle the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. UE knocked off SEMO, 6-5, in extra innings in Evansville on March 13 thanks to a walk-off RBI single by junior outfielder Harrison Taubert in the 10th inning. Taubert and Shallenberger were a part of a group of five Purple Aces who had multi-hit games that night, as UE pounded out 12 base hits in the win.
UE will bring a 24-19 overall record into Tuesday night’s game. The Purple Aces are 13-3 in the month of April so far. Evansville has won 15 of its last 19 games overall.
SEMO will bring a 22-22 overall record into Tuesday’s game after dropping two of three games to Morehead State over the weekend. Senior infielder Ty Stauss currently leads the Redhawks in batting average at .336 with 12 doubles, a triple and eight home runs. Senior infielder Ben Palmer and junior outfielder Michael Mugan lead the Redhawks in home runs with 12 and 10, respectively, and both homered against Evansville on March 13, with Mugan going a team-best 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI.
Freshman left-hander Kevin Reed (3-1, 8.10 ERA) will get the start on Tuesday night for UE. SEMO has not yet announced a starter for Tuesday night. Tuesday’s game can be seen live on ESPN+.
