EVANSVILLE Overall Record
9-7, 0-0 MVC
Last Week’s Results
March 18 vs. MICHIGAN STATE, L, 3-10, Culiver (L 0-1)
March 19 vs. MICHIGAN STATE, W, 2-0, Isom (W 3-1)
March 20 vs. MICHIGAN STATE, W, 6-5, Fick (W 3-0)
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
March 23 vs. UT-MARTIN, 6:00 p.m.
March 26 vs. INDIANA (DH), 1:00 p.m.
March 27 at Indiana, 12:00 p.m.
WHAT’S ON DECK
The Aces host UT-Martin Wednesday for a single game starting at 6:00 p.m. CDT. Evansville leads the series 7-2, and already beat the Skyhawks this season, 16-3, back on March 1. UT-Martin comes into the contest with a 4-15 record, having lost its last five games. The Skyhawks were swept by UAB in a three-game road series last weekend, falling 4-2, 2-1, and 8-6.
IN THE HOLE
Evansville will play a home-and-home three-game series with Indiana University next weekend. UE hosts a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m., then takes on the Hoosiers Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CDT in Bloomington. The Aces trail the series with IU, 22-14.
Ace Pitcher of the Week
Cole Isom, LHP, Fr., Hopkinsville, Ky.
9.0 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 WP, 0 BK, 0 HBP, 0 IBB, 31 AB, 35 BF, 9 FO 11 GO
Freshman southpaw Cole Isom (3-1) went the distance Saturday afternoon, throwing nine scoreless innings to give Evansville a 2-0 victory over Big Ten foe Michigan State. Isom capped the complete-game shutout with two straight strikeouts in a three-up, three-down ninth. He allowed just eight scattered hits and three walks to the 35 batters he faced, while striking out four. Isom is off to an incredible first-year campaign, as he has not allowed a run in his last three outings, totaling 21 scoreless consecutive innings.
Ace Player of the Week
Cody Fick, Sr., 3B/RHP, Freeburg, Mo.
.364 AVG, 3-3 GP-GS, 11 AB, 1 R, 4 H, .364 SLG%, .364 OB%, 2-2 SB
Senior Cody Fick led Evansville with a .364 batting average last week and piloted the Aces to a 2-1 series win over visiting Michigan State at the plate and on the mound. Fick scored a run, stole two bases, and had two multi-hit games while also improving his record to 3-0 on the mound, as UE topped the Spartans, 6-5, Sunday afternoon. Fick threw six full innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while also going 2-for-4 at the plate. Although third base is Fick’s primary position, the Freeburg, Mo. native leads the Aces’ pitching staff with a 0.90 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 20.0 innings pitched.
NATE’S RETURN
Senior
Nate Smith led the Aces offensively in their 2-0 win over Michigan State on Saturday, accounting for both of UE's runs and going 2-for-3 at the plate. Smith made his first appearance back in Evansville's starting lineup this past weekend after suffering a wrist injury during season-opening weekend. In the three-game series, Smith hit .300, scoring two runs and tallying three hits, including a double.
SAVE ME
Sophomore #Jake Naumann# earned his first career save, as UE topped Michigan State, 6-5, Sunday afternoon at Braun Stadium. Naumann shut down the Spartans for the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit.The Naperville, Ill. native got the Aces out of the seventh inning in which the Spartans scored three runs, and then shut them out for the eighth and ninth to preserve the win.
SPARTANS SNAP STREAK
Eric Stamets broke his 20-game hitting streak Saturday, when he went hitless versus Michigan State. The sophomore had recorded a hit in all 14 games this season and the last six of the 2010 season. The Aces’ longest hitting streak belongs to Jamey Carroll who hit in 27 straight games in 1996. On the season, Stamets is hitting .306 and leads the squad with 18 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
TURN TWO
The Aces have turned 22 double plays this season, including five this past weekend. Offensively, UE has only hit into seven double plays, and just two on the ground. Last season, Evansville broke the program record with 69 defensive double plays.
PITCHER’S PARK
With the wind often blowing in and field dimensions of 330ft down the left and right field lines and 400ft to center, Braun Stadium is a pitcher’s best friend. Through five home games this season, there has only been one ball belted out of the park, hit by Michigan State’s Jeff Holm last Sunday.
4-3 GROUNDOUT
Junior
Trentt Copeland got a lot of action at second base this weekend, recording nine assists Saturday with
Cole Isom on the mound. He was one assist shy of tying
Eric Stamets’ record set last season.
HOT AND COLD INNINGS
It has taken the Aces just one time through the order to get the opposing pitcher's number, as the Aces have scored 22 runs in the third inning this season, far more than any other inning. On the other hand, UE has been shut out in the second inning through all 16 games this season and hasn't tallied a run in the second frame in 22 straight games. The last time was May 20, 2010 when the Aces scored two in their 5-4 win over Illinois State.
SCORE EARLY
When the Aces cross the plate first, they own an 8-1 record, but when their opposition tallies runs in the first inning, the Aces are 0-6.
