UE set to begin 2017 campaign in Conway, Ark.

2/16/2017 5:21:00 PM

EVANSVILLE – There will be a lot of new faces in the fold on Friday evening as the University of Evansville baseball will begin the 2017 season with a three-game set against Central Arkansas at Bear Stadium.

The Aces will feature an astonishing 12 freshmen and four junior college transfers as they seek to build on a 2016 season that culminated with a pair of victories in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. While there's clearly been a sizable turnover in the team, one shouldn't mistake that for a total rebuild as the UE pitching staff will return 73% of their innings from a year ago to go along with some experienced bats as well.

Pitching has been a consistent theme in the preseason for the Aces due in part to the senior tandem of Connor Strain and Patrick Schnieders. Strain, who missed the bulk of last season with an injury, was off to a career start in 2016 before sitting out the year, posting a 0.68 earned run average over 26.1 innings and ending the season on a 23.2 inning scoreless streak. Schnieders, on the other hand, led the team with 83 innings on the mound last year, posting a 4.23 ERA.

There will be a newcomer headed to the mound on Sunday as Justin Hayden is expected to make his Aces debut after starring for Rend Lake Community College. The Mayfield, Ky., native was a thoroughbred in the junior college ranks, tossing 91 innings with six complete games with a 2.27 ERA. Each ranked among the top marks in the country.

UE's pitching staff will also feature the sophomore quartet of Austin Allinger, Brandon Gomer, Blake Swanger and Alex Weigand, who combined to throw more than 200 of the Aces' 489.1 innings last season. Relief ace Ryan Brady will also return after posting a 1.99 ERA over a team-best 28 appearances.

In the field, UE will be looking to replace all-conference bats in Josh Jyawook and Boomer Synek, but Trey Hair is set to return after a phenomenal first season in Evansville. Hair, who was named a preseason All-American in January, hit .340 a season ago with 20 doubles and 10 homers. He also ranked first on the team with 42 runs batted in and 41 scores.

Korbin Williams, who enjoyed a 10-homer season as well, will also be back, and UE head coach Wes Carroll is looking forward to seeing the next step in the progression of other returners like shortstop Stewart Nelson and outfielder Nate Reeder, who combined to score 37 times last year while knocking in another 25.

Andrew Tanous, a junior college teammate of Hair at Fort Scott Community College, is expected to play a major role at catcher for the Aces this season after hitting .397 with 16 doubles and nine homers as a sophomore. Brendan Krob, who will catch and play in left field this season, joins UE after ranking among the top hitters in the Midwest Collegiate League. Lincoln City product Kenton Crews will also be hoping to make his UE debut this weekend.

First pitch on Friday is slated for 3 p.m. The Aces will return to Bear Stadium for a 5 p.m. start on Saturday before closing out the set at 1 p.m. Sunday. The series kicks off a stretch of seven consecutive road games before the Aces open Charles H. Braun Stadium on March 3 against Milwaukee.

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