EVANSVILLE – After picking up their first conference road sweep in over a decade, the University of Evansville baseball team will take a six-game break from league play, beginning with a Tuesday showdown against UT Martin at Skyhawk Park.
UE at UT Martin (Tuesday, 6 p.m.): Live Stats |
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The Aces (13-22) showcased both pitching and offense against Illinois State over the weekend, and if the team wants to extend its three-game winning streak, it will hope to do the same Tuesday. Earlier this season, the Aces dropped a 12-4 contest to the Skyhawks at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
UE starting pitchers Connor Strain and Justin Hayden combined to throw 14 scoreless innings against the Redbirds, and sophomore lefty Alex Weigand will aim to keep the impressive run going as he's set to get the nod on Tuesday. A Bourbonnais, Ill., native, Weigand will be making his first start since tossing six one-hit frames in a 5-1 victory over Southern Indiana earlier this month. He enters Tuesday's contest with a 2-3 record and a 6.12 earned run average over 25 innings and nine appearances.
Meanwhile, a pair of newcomers continue to boast the best batting averages on the team, beginning with freshman leadoff pitcher Craig Shepherd, who owns a .310 average with 14 scores and nine runs batted in. The Jasper product recorded his first career home run on Saturday, sending the fourth pitch of the game over the fence in Normal.
Andrew Tanous, meanwhile, put together a .467 weekend for UE, highlighted by a two-homer performance in Saturday's 8-1 series-clinching victory.
Trey Hair and his .299 average continues to lead the team in most offensive categories, including doubles (15), homers (5), scores (24) and RBI (25).
UT Martin will be looking to put the brakes on a four-game skid that includes a sweep at the hands of Wright State and an 8-0 loss to Kentucky last week in Lexington. The Skyhawks are 12-20 overall and 4-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
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