NORMAL, Ill. - After a season spent defying the experts, the University of Evansville baseball team enters this week's Missouri Valley Conference as the fourth seed in the eight-team field against third seeded Indiana State Wednesday night at Duffy Bass Field on the campus of Illinois State.
 

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Wednesday - UE at ISU- 7 p.m. - The Valley on ESPN - Listen Live - Live Stats
Game Notes

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SETTING THE SCENE: • The Aces (24-27, 11-10) open the Missouri Valley Conference on the heels of a season of re-birth for the program, after back to back season of failing to reach the 20- win plateau, UE managed to post their best record since 2016. Their 11-10 record in MVC play is their best since the 2014 campaign, when the
Aces took home the league's regular season crown. The Aces' closed out the regular season by dropping two of three to MVC co-champion Illinois State in Normal this past weekend.

THE OPPOSITION: • Indiana State (36-15, 13-8) rolls into Duffy Bass Field coming off their best regular season since 2012, when they went 41-19. The Sycamores went 13-8 in Missouri Valley Conference play, finishing just one game out of the top spot in the standings. This past weekend, ISU bounced back from a series opening loss to
Bradley, outscoring the Braves 22-10 in the fi nal two games on it's way to a series victory, wrapping up the #3 spot in the MVC tournament.

THE STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP: • The Aces will open the tournament with junior right-hander Adam Lukas (5-5, 5.21 ERA) to face the Sycamores. Last time out, Lukas came back from a week off to take on Illinois State this past Friday. After tossing a pair of scoreless frames to open the game, the Redbirds put up a three spot
in the third on Lukas, and another in the fourth, chasing him from the game. His fi nal line was 4 IP, four runs, all earned, on fi ve hits,striking out two, while walking a pair.
Indiana State will counter with left-hander Triston Polley (6-1, 2.72 ERA). Last time out, Polley went six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits, while striking out nine against Bradley. However, Polley got the no-decision, as the Braves came back to win 9-5. These two ace pitchers squared off on April 20, with Lukas getting the win, giving up two runs on fi ve hits while striking out six. Polley got a no decision after going fi ve innings, alliowing two runs on four hits, while striking out one.

ALL-TIME SERIES: • The Aces and Sycamores have met 172 times through the years, with Indiana State holding a decisive series edge, 107-65, dating back to 1911. The last time the two crossed paths on the diamond, the Sycamores took 2-of-3 from UE in the regular at Braun Stadium earlier this seasons. However, Adam Lukas and
the Aces got the better of Triston Polley and the Sycamores in the rain-delayed series opener, Saturday April 20, winning 6-2.

First pitch from Duffy Bass Field is set for 7 p.m.

 

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