If head coach David Seifert’s young University of Evansville baseball team can hit this spring as well as the Purple Aces hit the books this fall, then expect big things out of the Purple Aces in 2008.

That is because Seifert’s squad posted a team grade point average of 3.001 during the fall semester at UE.  Eight different Purple Aces -- newcomers Matt Netherton and John Foley and returning players Chris Combs, Mark Obenchain, Alex Acheson, Jim Viscomi, Ty Legan and Jared Baehl -- posted grade point averages of 3.50 and above during the fall semester, while 21 players overall sported a 3.0 grade point average or higher at UE.

“Every year, we encourage the team to give their very best in everything that they do, not just on the baseball field,” said Seifert.  “We set the GPA goal at 3.0 for the fall semester and they achieved it.

“We have a group of young men with great character who also have pride in themselves and the representation of our baseball program.  We’ve had extraordinary player leadership this year, and this is the latest example.  The players really deserve all of the credit for their hard work this fall.”

Seifert’s new-look Purple Aces squad will begin spring practice on February 1, before opening up the 2008 season on Friday, February 22 in Rock Hill, South Carolina when UE will battle Winthrop in the first round of the Johnny Gill Memorial Tournament.  First-pitch for the 2008 season is set for 3:00 p.m. central time.