University of Evansville junior pitcher Keegan Dennis (Carmi, Ill./Carmi-White County H.S.) has been honored as one of five “Louisville Slugger” National Players of the Week this week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, after tossing UE’s first no-hitter since 2005 on Saturday in the Purple Aces’ 9-0 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Dennis issued just one walk and one hit batsman, as he faced just two batters over the minimum in his no-hit effort against the Cougars on Saturday.  He did not allow either runner to advance past first base, and allowed just two balls to leave the infield against him on the mound.  Dennis recorded 11 of his 21 outs via strikeout, including striking out the side in both the second and fifth innings.  The no-hitter was the first at UE since former Purple Ace Fred Jones no-hit Northern Iowa, 10-0, in a seven-inning contest on April 10, 2005.  Overall, it is the fourth no-hitter at UE since 1990.

Dennis was joined in earning “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week honors by pitchers Alex Wimmers of Ohio State and Paul Duncan of Eastern Kentucky, both of whom also tossed no-hitters on Saturday for their respective teams.  West Virginia State outfielder Bo Darby, who homered in five consecutive at-bats last week, and Utah first baseman Austin Jones, who hit a Mountain West Conference record four home runs in one game, also earned “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball.

Dennis and the Purple Aces will return to action next on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m., as Evansville (24-23 overall, 7-11 MVC) will travel to Champaign, Illinois to take on No. 25 Illinois (30-13 overall) in a non-conference contest.  UE will then open up an important three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Indiana State (30-14 overall, 12-4 MVC) on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. central time.  All four road games this week can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.