MEDIA CENTER
AUDIO , LIVE STATSUE GAME NOTES , APSU GAME NOTESTwitter:
@UEAcesBaseball and
@UEAthleticsEVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team (28-22) finishes the 2015 regular season with a three game series against Austin Peay (25-25). The first two games on Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15 will be held at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Ind. at 6:00 p.m. CDT. The final contest of the series is at Austin Peay on Saturday, May 16 with a 4:00 p.m. CDT start time.
Â
UE will hold their Senior Day ceremony before first pitch on Friday, May 15. The team will honor pitcher
Ryan Billo, pitcher
Conor Gilligan, outfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski, outfielder
Jarod Perry, and pitcher
Matt Rodgers.
Â
Adult tickets at Braun Stadium are $7 and senior/youth tickets are $5 each.
Â
PITCHING MATCHUPThursday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m. CDTUE LHP
Brodie Harkness (6-3, 4.13 ERA) vs. APSU RHP Jared Carkuff (5-5, 4.54 ERA)
Â
Friday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. CDTUE RHP
Matt Rodgers (4-1, 4.22 ERA) vs. APSU RHP Alex Robles (6-3, 3.31 ERA)
Saturday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m. CDTUE RHP
Connor Strain (3-6, 6.43 ERA) vs. APSU TBA
Â
LAST TIME OUTThe Purple Aces utilized an eight run sixth inning and a go-ahead, pinch-hit, eighth inning RBI single from
Max Foley for an 11-10 win at Murray State (15-38) on Tuesday night. Outfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski was 3-for-5 with a run scored, two triples and three RBIs in the 11
th straight midweek win for the Aces.
Â
APSU BREAKDOWNThe Governors enter this series after a 2-1 win at Lipscomb on Tuesday night. Last weekend, Austin Peay lost two of three games at home against SIUE. The Governors have a .500 record on the season (25-25) and in conference play (15-15).
Â
THE SERIESEvansville is 39-23-2 in the all-time series with Austin Peay. The teams split a doubleheader last year in Clarksville, Tenn.
Â
UE STATISTICALLYStatistically, Evansville is led offensively by outfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski. His .480 batting average, 84 hits, 19 doubles, nine triples, 55 runs batted in, 133 total bases, a .760 slugging percentage, a .553 on-base percentage, and 13 stolen bases are all team-highs. Outfielder
Josh Jyawook (.324), infielder
Jonathan Ramon (.319) and outfielder
Jarod Perry (.303) also have high batting averages for the Purple Aces. Ramon has a team-best five home runs. Right-hander
Ryan Billo has a team-low 3.42 earned run average. Eight different UE pitchers have recorded at least one win including eight from Billo and six by left-hander
Brodie Harkness. The team is cumulatively hitting .279 this season with a 4.80 team ERA.
Â
APSU STATISTICALLYThe Governors have six players batting over .300 including Logan Gray (.366) as well as Garrett Copeland and Dre Gleason (.349). Gray has a team-best 14 home runs and 39 runs batted in. Copeland has the most stolen bases of any Governor with 17. Starter Alex Robles has a team-high six wins and team-low 3.31 earned run average. A.J. Gaura has six saves this year. The team is batting .305 with a 5.39 earned run average.
Â
WE'RE GOING STREAKINGOutfielder
Jarod Perry has a 51 game on-base streak and an 12 game hit streak. Infielder
Jonathan Ramon has hit safely in 13 straight games.
Â
ONE OF A KINDOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski leads the nation in batting average (.480) and on base percentage (.553).
Â
CHASING HISTORYOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski is nearing a few milestones this spring
Â
Single Season- His 84 hits are one shy of tying for ninth most in program history, two short of tying for eighth, three from being tied for fifth, four from tying for fourth, six from tying for third, seven for tying the record holders (Greg Wallace and Kasey Wahl) and eight away from setting the record.
- .480 batting average is highest in program history (Jeff Starks hit .414 in 1982).
- Nine triples is tied for second most in program history. Needs one triple for sole possession of second place.
- 19 doubles is 1 shy of tying four players for ninth most, and two short of tying four players for fifth.
Â
Career- 66 doubles are tied with Ryan Connors (1997-2000) for second most.
- 22 triples is second highest.
- .354 batting average is third best in program history.
- 167 runs is sixth most. He needs six to become fifth in program history.
- 831 at bats is 9th highest.
- 169 RBIs is fourth most in program history. A two RBI weekend would move him into third place.
Â
LUCKY ELEVENAfter recording an 11-10 win at Murray State on May 12, the Purple Aces have no won 11 straight mid-week games. The last time UE lost a midweek contest was March 11 at Belmont.
MILESTONE WINEvansville recorded the program's 1100
th win with an 11-10 victory at Murray State on May 12.
Â
COMEBACK KIDSUE erased a four run deficit at Murray State on May 12 with an eight run sixth inning. After the Racers tied the game with a four run seventh, Evansville went back ahead on a pinch-hit single from
Max Foley in the eighth for the 11-10 win.
Â
THIRD TIME IS A CHARMOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski was named MVC Player of the Week again on May 11, his third such honor in four weeks. A Cary, Ill. native, Kaczmarski hit a team best .588 (10-for-17), with the highest slugging percentage (.882) and on-base percentage (.632) of any Purple Ace. He led UE in hits (10), doubles (three), triples (one), runs batted in (eight), total bases (15), and stolen bases (one).
CROWN THE KAZ AGAINOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski was named back to back MVC Player of the Week on April 27. Kaczmarski hit a team best .667 (12-for-18), leading the Purple Aces in runs (six), hits (12), doubles (four), triples (one), home runs (one), runs batted in (six), total bases (21), slugging percentage (1.167), on base percentage (.684), and stolen bases (one). His .455 batting average this season leads the country. He began the week by tallying three hits, and coming within a triple of the cycle in a 9-6 win over Northern Kentucky on April 22. He totaled two runs scored, a double, home run, and two runs batted in. Kaczmarski added another three hit day with a run scored, double, and RBI on Friday night at Bradley. After another hit on Saturday, Kaczmarski ended his week by going 5-for-5 at Bradley on Sunday, April 26. He was just a home run shy of being the first Purple Ace in program history to achieve the cycle, while also tying his career high for hits. Kaczmarski collected two doubles and a triple in the 10-0, mercy rule shortened seven inning road win over the Braves.
RISING UP THE CHARTSWith a 5-for-5 performance at Bradley on April 26, outfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski tied his career high with five hits in the game. He also had two doubles, a triple, three runs scored and three runs batted in, falling just a home run shy of being the first Purple Ace to achieve the cycle in program history. His first inning triple was the 18
th in his UE career, passing Pat Schulz (1990-1993) for second most in program history. The two doubles for Kaczmarski gave him 61 in his time with Evansville, tying Phil Broshears 1997-2000) for fourth most in Purple Aces history.
Â
HIGH FIVEOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski led UE to a 9-6 win over Northern Kentucky on April 22. He was 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. His third inning RBI double was the 58
th two-bagger of his Purple Aces career, moving him into sole possession of fifth most in program history.
Â
TRIPLE THE FUNOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski hit his 17
th career triple on April 18, moving him into a tie with Pat Schulz (1990-93) for second most in program history. Greg Wallace (2008-11) holds the overall program record at 25.
Â
KAZ'S COURTOutfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski was named MVC Player of the Week on April 20. He piloted the Purple Aces to four wins this past week, leading the team in batting average (.455), hits (10), triples (one), home runs (one), runs batted in (seven), total bases (17), slugging percentage (.733) and stolen bases (four).
Â
LOW FIVEUE committed five errors in the second game of a doubleheader with South Alabama on April 18, and all of the errors came in the sixth inning. Evansville overcame those errors to still defeat the Jaguars 9-5.
Â
DOUBLEHEADER DAYSDue to pending storms and sometimes unplayable field conditions, the Aces have had to play seven doubleheaders this season. UE is 9-5 in doubleheaders this spring. The Purple Aces played and won both games of a doubleheader at UALR on Feb. 14 winning the first contest 7-2 before finishing a sweep with a 16-3, seven inning victory in game two. UE also swept a doubleheader from Western Kentucky on Feb. 22 with an 11-10, 10 inning win in the opener and a 9-8 victory in the finale. The Aces then split doubleheaders with Western Illinois on March 6 (L 4-3, W 6-4) and on March 7 (W 10-0, L 3-0). UE lost both games of a doubleheader to Ohio State 4-3 and 12-2 on Sunday, March 15. Evansville split a doubleheader at Indiana State on March 28 (L 4-0, W 7-3) and most recently, swept a doubleheader vs. South Alabama on April 18 (W 6-5, W 9-5).
Â
I…AM…#1 ! Outfielder
Josh Jyawook received national recognition when he was selected as the #1 play on ESPN's Sportscenter. Playing at Indiana on April 15, Jyawook made a viral video catch that kept the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and no runners on, Craig Dedelow hit a fly ball to left field that Jyawook ran down as he crashed into the waist high wall and somersaulted into the IU bullpen. Jyawook then rose to his feet on the other side of the wall and showed the ball still in his glove.
Â
BRODIE BASEBALLLeft-hander
Brodie Harkness matched his career-high with 8.0 innings pitched on Sunday, April 12 against #20 Missouri State. The freshman allowed just two runs on nine hits, not walking a single batter and striking out three hitters. The left-hander yielded just a two-run home run in a 2-0 defeat. He retired 10 straight batters in the middle innings and nine of the last 10 hitters he faced.
Â
STRIKEOUTS AND STRANDED RUNNERSDespite a four run comeback on Saturday, April 12, the Aces were unable to eek out a win with #20 Missouri State. UE struck out 15 times in the 10 inning game, a new season high, including nine strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
Â
GETTING JIGGY WITH ITOutfielder
Josh Jyawook had a career night on April 10 against #20 Missouri State. Even though UE totaled only seven hits, Jyawook tied a career-high with three hits and scored both of the Purple Aces runs on the night.
Â
ONE HIT WONDERWith a first inning hit by pitch on April 8 against USI, outfielder
Jarod Perry set the UE baseball program record with his 42
nd career HBP. The senior is just in his second season with the Purple Aces after transferring from Kaskaskia CC. He surpassed the mark previously held by outfielder Alex Acheson who played with UE from 2007-2010. Â
Â
HARKNESS HELPING MAKE HISTORYLeft-hander
Brodie Harkness threw his first career complete game and second ever shutout in the UE 10-0 win at Illinois State on Sunday, April 5. The win secured a series win for the Purple Aces, their first road series win at Illinois State since 2007.
Â
BIRTHDAY BOYOutfielder
Jarod Perry was 1-for-4 on his birthday, April 4, at Illinois State with a go-ahead RBI single in the third inning.
Â
HIT PARADEEvansville set a season-high with 21 hits in a 15-11 win at UT-Martin on March 31. Every UE starter had at least one RBI in the victory. Eight Aces starters scored at least one run as eight starters also recorded at least one hit each.
Â
WEEK OF COMEBACK WINSEvansville won three games this past week, all on the road, and all in comeback fashion. UE rallied from a two run deficit to score four runs in the ninth for a 4-2 victory at SIUE on Wednesday, March 25. The Purple Aces then surged back from a 3-1 hole on March 28 for a 7-3 victory at Indiana State. UE also overcame a 5-1 deficit on Sunday, March 29 for a 9-7 road series win at Sycamore Stadium.
Â
NINTH INNING MAGICUE scored four runs in the ninth inning to turn a loss into a 4-2 road win at SIUE on March 25. The Aces drew closer with a bases loaded walk and tied the game on a wild pitch. Infielder
Jonathan Ramon then hit the go-ahead two run single that created the Aces' victory.
Â
BRILLIANT BILLOPitcher
Ryan Billo threw a season-high 7.0 innings pitched at SIUE on March 25 and also set a new career-high with seven strikeouts. He received the no decision in the UE come-from-behind 4-2 win.
Â
TWICE AS NICELeft-hander
Brodie Harkness was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on March 23, his second such honor this year. Harkness (3-1) had a career day in the Aces' 3-1 win over #18 Dallas Baptist on March 22. The freshman left-hander threw a career-high 8.0 innings in the victory, yielding just one unearned run on four hits. Harkness did not allow a hit outside of the infield until the eighth as he also struck out five batters in the win.
Â
TOP 25 TRIUMPHThe Aces defeated #18 Dallas Baptist 3-1 on March 22, the first UE victory over a ranked opponent since winning at #4 Vanderbilt on Feb. 26, 2014. Pitcher
Brodie Harkness threw 8.0 innings in the victory as outfielder
Kevin Kaczmarski was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs batted in.
Â
TIK-TOKTime was against catcher
Travis Tokarek who was hitless in his last 21 at-bats entering the Dallas Baptist series. The freshman stopped the skid with a three-run ninth-inning double that helped spark a five run rally. Tokarek had just two runs batted in prior to his bases-clearing double.
Â
MANHANDLING MURRAYThe Aces matched a season-high with 15 hits against the Murray State Racers in a 15-2 victory on March 18. Eight starters had at least one hit each for the Aces who matched their largest win total (16-3 victory at UALR on Feb. 14).
Â
WELL…THAT'S A FIRSTUtilityman
Tyler Sullivan recorded the first hit of his college career on March 18 against Murray State. Sullivan's eight-inning pinch-hit single sparked a six run inning.
Â
THE EVANSVILLE EMERSON ACESDue to inclement weather, the Aces played seven of their first 11 games this year in Emerson, Ga. at the Perfect Games complex.
Â
RAKIN' RAMONWith a pair of home runs this past weekend, infielder
Jonathan Ramon now leads UE with three round-trippers this season. Ramon homered in the series opener at Ohio State on Friday night and also hit a home run in the series finale in the last game of the doubleheader on Sunday.
Â
HARK THE MESSAGEPitcher
Brodie Harkness was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 9. The UE freshman left-hander earned his team-high second win of the season with 6.0 scoreless innings of one hit baseball and a career-high eight strikeouts vs. Western Illinois on March 7. Harkness had two strikeouts in each of the first three innings on his way to a new career-high. He also retired the final 14 batters he faced in the Purple Aces 10-0 win over the Leathernecks.
Â
FIRST THINGS FIRSTThe Aces hung with #1 Vanderbilt into extra before falling 9-8 in 12 innings on March 3. UE took a ninth inning lead with a three-run home run from infielder
Jonathan Ramon but a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth forced extras and a wild pitch in the 12th gave Vanderbilt the win.
Â
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST ENDSecond baseman
Boomer Synek had a 32-game on-base streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance at Belmont on March 11. He reached base safely in the first 11 games of the season and previous 21 games of the 2014 season. The prior game in which Synek did not reach base was on April 13, 2014 vs. Wichita State.
Â
KORBIN CRUSHING ITOutfielder
Korbin Williams hit two home runs against Western Kentucky in the first game of a doubleheader on Feb. 22. Williams hit his first career home run in the fifth inning, a three run blast, and then hit the go-ahead home run in the 10th for an 11-10 Aces win.
Â
NO JOSHING AROUNDOutfielder
Josh Jyawook was named MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 16 for his opening series at UALR. Jyawook hit .385 with three runs scored, a grand slam home run, and eight runs batted in. His three runs scored and eight RBIs were an MVC best.
Â
ON DECKAfter the conclusion of this series, the Aces will travel to Wichita, Kan. for the MVC Tournament which begins on Wednesday, May 20.
Â
For all of the latest information on Evansville baseball, log on to
GoPurpleAces.com or follow the team's Twitter account
@UEAcesBaseball.
Â
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-