Wedged next to a news article with the headline "RUTH FEATURES AT BAT AS YANKEES OVERWHELM BOSTON RED SOX; 13 TO 4", is a single column report titled "COLLEGE DEFEATS BETHEL IN FIRST ROAD GAME; 5-4". Unbeknownst to anyone putting together that particular edition of The Evansville Courier on April 24, 1924, that would be the first of many games played by the then-Evansville College Pioneers.
 
The first edition of the team that would go on to be known as the Aces was formed during the early portions of 1924. Despite teams being established in 1920 through 1922, 1924 represented the first formal team assembled by Evansville College. Before the college moved from its location in southeastern Indiana, the University of Evansville was known as Moores Hill College and formed multiple informal teams in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

In the '20s, Evansville College was referred to by multiple different names in the pages of Evansville's two newspapers; The Evansville Courier and The Evansville Press. Pioneers, College, and even Rail Splitters were used to describe "the Lincoln avenue institution" in the pages of the local papers in 1924.

The person in charge of Evansville's first baseball team in 1924 featured an already full plate of responsibilities at the college. John Harmon, who already held the head coaching position for both the football and men's basketball teams, took on the duties of head coach for the Pioneers' baseball team.
 
Building a new nine from scratch had its challenges, but Harmon hit his stride in constructing his new team. Many of the players who made it out for the first tryout on February 18 were already familiar to Harmon as they came from the College's football or basketball squads. In all, 20 prospective players turned out for the try out.
 
Early pre-season work was marred by poor weather conditions and the lack of a facility that could house a team of 20-or-more, so Harmon sent the team home until warmer weather would allow them to practice outside.
 
As the team returned from spring break, Harmon continued work on the Pioneers' new diamond, which finished completion just before the start of the season, thanks to some timely weather. The Evansville Press reported on the field's progress in the April 9^th edition of the newspaper.
 
"Rain, although hampering outdoor practice work, was welcomed by Coach John Harmon at Evansville college yesterday. The Purple mentor had just put the finishing touches to his new baseball diamond when old Jup let out his wrath and Harmon settled back and watched the rain pack down the dirt on his new diamond and all was well. When the horses were being unhitched from the drag which had gone over the infield for the last time, the first drops of rain began to fall. The work was finished and all that was needed was a hard rain to help pack the ground."
 
In the weeks leading up to the team's first-ever contest, Harmon held intrasquad scrimmages "lasting a few innings…that developed teamwork." The team held a pre-season exhibition against the Eagles of the Courier league on April 19 at a new ballpark in Evansville, Eagles Park, which was located at the corners of Washington and Weinbach.
 
Evansville dropped the exhibition, 8-6, to the semi-pro team, but impressed the city in their first contest against foreign competition, ahead of its first regular season matchup.
 
The first game played by Evansville College took place on April 23, 1924; it would be the first of 3,014 games played by the team that would eventually be known as the Aces. In their first contest, the College faced Bethel College of Kentucky on the road in Russelville, Ky. Evansville found itself behind, 3-2, entering the fifth inning, but that is when the tide began to turn.

In the fifth, a pair of Pioneers were walked and Daniel Scism drove both runners home with a triple to give Evansville the lead for good. On the mound, Russell Springston struck-out five batters, while walking three, allowing six hits in nine innings of work.
   
If a new program getting its feet underneath itself in the first series was not trying enough, Evansville was hit with another blow during its two-game set at Bethel. In the midst of its first game, the Pioneers had multiple items stolen from their clubhouse, including money totaling $8 (equaling more than $100 in 2020). The next day, a similar happening occurred as more of Evansville's items were pilfered from the clubhouse. This time "a watch chain, belt, mitt, numerous loose dollars, a silver coin," and other items were taken. The April 25, 1924 edition of the Evansville Press tells the complete story.
 

Following the two-game set at Bethel, Evansville made its way to Memphis for a meeting with Southwestern Presbyterian University (now called Rhodes College). Evansville dropped both contests in Memphis, but found their second win in their first home game on May 3.

Hosting Union Christian, Evansville captured a 10-4 win, as the offense powered the day with 12 hits. The homestand continued for Evansville on May 14 and 15 as the Pioneers welcomed in Rhodes for a pair of games, falling 7-3 and 6-3.

Coming down the final stretch of the season, Evansville secured its first road victory in program history with a 7-5 triumph over Oakland City on May 30. The season came to a close against the same Oakland City side, as Evansville was bested, 3-1.

Evansville closed its inaugural season with a 3-6 record, but set itself up with a strong foundation for future seasons.
                            

Date	Opponent	Result
April 23	at Bethel (Ky.)	W, 5-4
April 24	at Bethel (Ky.)	L, 0-5
April 25	at Rhodes	L, 4-11
April 26	at Rhodes	L, 1-5
May 3	Union Christian	W, 10-4
May 14	Rhodes	L, 3-7
May 15	Rhodes	L, 3-6
May 30	at Oakland City	W, 7-5
June 7	Oakland City	L, 1-3

In its second season in 1925, Harmon helped Evansville amass a 5-2 record before going 4-10 in 1926 against a tough schedule. The College was without a baseball team from 1926 to 1945 before reviving the program in 1946.