Evansville (23-20, 5-7) vs. Indiana State (29-13, 8-6)
Charles H. Braun Stadium, Evansville, IN
- 5:00 p.m. Friday (Dennis, UE vs. Petricka, ISU)
- 1:00 p.m. Saturday (Johns, UE vs. Rodriguez, ISU)
- 12:00 p.m. Sunday (TBA, UE vs. Van Skike, ISU)
Evansville came to Omaha last weekend and was shown the door. The Jays swept the Purple Aces outscoring the Purple Aces 25-10. Expect Purple Ace ace Keegan Dennis to keep Evansville in the game Friday as he did against CU. Valley home run leader Cody Fick, 3B, lead the Purple Aces at the plate going 5-12. With a record of 16-6 at home, Evansville will need any advantage it can get against their in-state rival.
The final two remaining series for the Sycamore are on the road. With the fast approaching conference tournament, the Sycamore are just one game out of third place. Jacob Petricka will lead the Sycamores on the mound. Last Friday he threw the first complete game of the season for ISU while striking out 11. Freshman Robby Ort had a solid week too which included a pair of home runs in games against Indiana and Missouri State. This freshman is turning heads in the Valley.
Missouri State (18-25, 4-8) vs. Illinois State (21-18, 11-21, 9-3)
Hammons Field, Springfield, MO
- 6:30 p.m. Friday (Kickham, MSU vs. Maines, ISU)
- 3:00 p.m. Saturday (Doyle, MSU vs. Sorkin, ISU)
- 1:00 p.m. Sunday (Meade, MSU vs. Learnard, ISU)
The Bears need a weekend to get back in the win column. Losers of four of their last five games and hosting first place Illinois State, the Bears will have their work cut out for them. If they can get to Illinois pithcing early, the Bears are 16-5 when scoring 5 runs or more. Aaron Meade took home pitcher of the week honors for Missouri State after 8 shutout innings of three hit ball against Indiana State.
The Redbirds have nine games remaining in conference and hold on to a tw0 game advantage over Wichita State in the loss column. They lost a couple games last week going 1-2 against the Shockers. After playing seven of their last ten games at home, the Redbirds will be on the road where they are 5-1 in Valley play. Watch out four Ryan Court, four home runs in four games, along with going 9-18 from the plate lifted his average to .278.