EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Priory) was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on Monday after helping the Purple Aces to three victories last week against Austin Peay and Belmont. It is Shallenberger’s second MVC Player of the Week award in his UE career.
Shallenberger hit a team-best .357 with three home runs and a team-best eight RBI in UE’s four contests last week. He hit a key three-run home run to ignite UE’s offense in a 13-6 victory over Austin Peay to begin the week, as he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI. Shallenberger also had two home runs and knocked a double on Saturday in UE’s 8-3 victory at Belmont to secure the series victory. Four of Shallenberger’s five hits on the week went for extra-bases, as he had a double and three home runs, while slugging 1.071. He also worked three walks on the week, while posting a .500 on-base percentage.
Overall, Shallenberger leads the UE offense with a .377 average, seven home runs and 31 RBI. Shallenberger and the Purple Aces will try to wrap up its current four-game road trip on a winning note on Tuesday afternoon, as UE will travel north to Indianapolis to battle the Butler Bulldogs. First-pitch is set for 3 p.m. central time at Butler’s Bulldog Park.
Evansville will bring a 14-17 overall record into Tuesday’s game after winning two out of three games in a series at Belmont over the weekend. UE has won four of the last five games overall. The Purple Aces continue to rank among the national leaders in doubles this season with 84, as UE ranks third in NCAA Division I baseball in the category.
Butler will bring a 13-16 overall record into Tuesday’s game after dropping two of three games at Creighton over the weekend to open Big East play. Junior infielder Carter Dorighi currently leads the Butler offense with a .391 average, while freshman infielder Kade Lewis is not far behind at .387. Lewis has been as good as any hitter in college baseball of late, hitting safely in 15 of the last 16 games with 11 multi-hit games in those 16 contests. He also provides the power in the Butler attack, having hit a team-best nine home runs so far.
Evansville will starter sophomore RHP Elias Hachem (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on Tuesday afternoon. He will be opposed by Butler RHP Cooper Robinson (0-0, 54.00 ERA).
