Box Score

JONESBORO, Ark. -- About all Cody Fick needed Sunday afternoon was a catcher. The University of Evansville senior did most of the remaining work, pitching and hitting the Purple Aces to their second straight victory over Arkansas State, 3-2.  The Aces are now 2-4.  Arkansas State is 2-6.

Fick made the first pitching start of his Division I career Sunday, and his first appearance on the mound since 2009.  He allowed ASU five hits and no earned runs in his five innings of work while striking out three and walking only one.  Errors in the third and sixth innings allowed Arkansas State's only two runs.

At the plate, Fick got the scoring started in the first inning when he singled in Greg Wallace, who had doubled.  The Aces went up 3-0 in the third when Eric Stamets singled and stole second, and then scored on Fick's single.  Fick then stole a base, and motored home on an RBI single by freshman Jake Mahon.

Fick did get some help to preserve his first win.  Jake Naumann came into the game with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth inning, and got out of the jam with just one unearned run. He also pitched a scoreless seventh inning.  Adam Culiver took over in the eighth, and got out of a jam by forcing a two-out ground ball with two runners on base.  He finished by blanking Arkansas State in the ninth inning to pick up his second save in as many days.

"We looked at our options, and starting a senior and a leader in Cody Fick was a good option for us," said coach Wes Carroll.  "He's a competitor, and he leads by example.  I knew he would do well for us.  And don't forget our other pitchers.  Once again, they bailed out our hitters.  Jake Naumann and Adam Culiver got it done late in the game for us. That's a good finish to the weekend for us against a quality opponent."