EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team will open up Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend by hosting the red-hot Murray State Racers in a three-game series at UE’s German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium beginning on Friday night at 6 p.m. The series will continue on Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1, with all three games being seen live on ESPN+.
Evansville enters MVC play at 9-11 overall after dropping an 11-3 decision at #21 Kentucky on Tuesday night. The nationally-ranked Wildcats used a seven-run sixth inning to blow open a tied game and power past the Purple Aces. Tuesday’s game capped a stretch of seven out of eight games against Power Five competition for UE.
UE will enter MVC play with a .304 team batting average, led by graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger’s .403 batting average. Shallenberger has reached base safely in 36-straight games dating back to last year, and he ranks 16th in the country in on-base percentage at .561. Junior second baseman Cal McGinnis (.355) and junior outfielder Ty Rumsey (.351) both hit above .350 as well this season for UE, while senior infielder/outfielder Kip Fougerousse and graduate third baseman Brent Widder will bring .333 batting averages into this weekend’s series. Widder currently leads the team with six home runs and 20 RBI.
Murray State, meanwhile, will bring a 14-6 overall record into Valley play after sweeping Little Rock in a three-game series at home last weekend. The Racers are a perfect 11-0 at home so far this year, and that has helped MSU rank 37th in the RPI entering the weekend. Murray State is hitting .298 as a team, led by junior infielder Drew Vogel’s .383 batting average. The Racers currently lead the MVC in home runs with 36, and junior infielder Carson Garner leads the league with nine home runs already this season.
Evansville leads the all-time series against Murray State, 44-22. Last year, Evansville won three out of four meetings against Murray State, including posting a 3-2 victory over MSU in the MVC Tournament. Evansville will send senior RHP Nick Smith (0-3, 11.50 ERA) to the mound on Friday to begin the series. Murray State is expected to counter with right-hander Cade Vernon (3-1, 4.08 ERA).
