EVANSVILLE, Ind. - With just four weeks left in the regular season, the University of Evansville baseball team begins the final push towards the Missouri Valley Conference tournament this weekend at Valparaiso University.

SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday at 2 p.m. CT @ Bauer Field - LIVE STATS
Saturday at 12 p.m. CT @ Bauer Field - LIVE STATS
Sunday at 12 p.m. CT @ Bauer Field - LIVE STATS

Evansville Game Notes
Valparaiso Game Notes

SETTING THE SCENE:  • The Aces (19-18) are coming off a tough week, which saw UE get back in the win column by out-slugging Murray State in a 16-12 non-conference road victory. Evansville also took the series opener with Indiana State, 6-2, before being swept in a doubleheader Sunday by the Sycamores.

The Aces dropped an 8-4 decision to UT-Martin in a non-conference match-up Wednesday in Martin, Tennessee.

THE OPPOSITION:  • Valparaiso (8-27) had lost eight in a row before shocking Illinois State, 4-2, in their series finale Sunday. At 1-8 in league play, the Crusaders occupy the Missouri Valley Conference basement. 19 games below .500, Valpo is off to it's worst start in more than a decade 

THE STARTING ROTATION:  •  The Aces will open the weekend with junior right-hander Adam Lukas (5-3, 4.55 ERA) taking the hill for UE. In his last start, the highly-touted ace recovered from a rocky start to shutdown the potent Indiana State lineup, holding the Sycamores to two runs on five hits, while striking out five six innings of work. Valparaiso will counter with RHP Jon Tieman (2-6, 5.37 ERA).

On Saturday, the Aces will send out junior left-hander Nathan Croner (5-4, 3.60 ERA) to face the Crusaders. Last time out, Croner pitched six strong innings against Indiana State, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking four, but was out of the game before things got out of hand in an 8-2 setback. Valpo will counter with RHP Zach Fricke (0-3, 7.64 ERA).

On Sunday, the Aces will once again turn to senior right-hander Justin Hayden (1-1, 4.71 ERA) for his fifth start of the season. Last time out, Hayden went four innings, giving up four runs on four hits, while striking out two in a 6-4 loss to Indiana State. The Crusaders will counter with LHP Jarrett Hammel (1-3, 5.27 ERA).

ALL-TIME SERIES:  • Valpo holds a 37-19 lead in an all-time set that goes back to 1948. Valpo picked up its first MVC series win in Evansville last April, sandwiching 7-2 and 6-1 wins around a 9-8 setback in the middle game. This is the first time the two teams have played one another in Valpo since April 18, 1980, a game the Purple Aces won 24-7.
 

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