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WICHITA, Kan. – The University of Evansville baseball team (27-19, 8-10) is on the road this weekend to visit the Wichita State Shockers (19-29, 6-9) for a three game series
 
All three games will be played at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kan.
 
PITCHING MATCHUP
Friday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. CDT
UE LHP Brodie Harkness (6-3, 4.37 ERA) vs. WSU RHP Issac Anderson (4-6, 4.42 ERA)
 
Saturday, May 9 at 12:00 p.m. CDT
UE RHP Matt Rodgers (4-0, 3.66 ERA) vs. WSU LHP Jeb Bargfeldt (2-3, 4.03 ERA)
 
Sunday, May 10 at 1:00 p.m. CDT
UE RHP Connor Strain (3-5, 6.52 ERA) vs. WSU RHP Chase Williams (1-4, 8.71 ERA)
 
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LAST TIME OUT
The Purple Aces set a new season-high in runs with a 19-2 victory over the UT-Martin Skyhawks (15-31) on Wednesday night. Four players recorded three hits each in the largest win this season for UE.
 
WSU BREAKDOWN
The Shockers began the season 3-2 before enduring a seven game losing streak. Most recently, Wichita State was swept last weekend against #14 Missouri State on the road but did win 11-5 against Kansas State on Tuesday night.
 
THE SERIES
WSU holds a 53-27 advantage in the all-time series. UE won two of three from the Shockers at home last year but Wichita State knocked Evansville out of the MVC Tournament with a 8-6 win on May 21. The Shockers took two of three from the Purple Aces in the last series at Eck Stadium (2013).
 
UE STATISTICALLY
Evansville is led offensively by outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski. His .468 batting average, 74 hits, 16 doubles, seven triples, 46 runs batted in, 116 total bases, a .734 slugging percentage, a .545 on base percentage, and 13 stolen bases are all team-highs. Outfielder Josh Jyawook (.329), infielder Jonathan Ramon (.310) and outfielder Jarod Perry (.308) also have high batting averages for the Purple Aces. Ramon has a team-best five home runs. Right-hander Ryan Billo has a team-low 3.09 earned run average. Eight different UE pitchers have recorded at least one win including seven from Billo and six by left-hander Brodie Harkness. The team is cumulatively hitting .278 this season with a 4.51 team ERA.
 
WSU STATISTICALLY
Ryan Tinkham leads the Shockers in batting average (.327), runs (41), doubles (15), home runs (eight), total bases (95), slugging percentage (.556), and walks (25). Sam Hilliard has the most hits (57) and RBIs (40) of any Shocker. Daniel Kihle has swiped a team-best 16 bases. Issac Anderson and John Hayes both have four wins, most on the pitching staff. Anderson holds the lowest ERA at 4.42 as Hayes has the most saves (2). The team is hitting .269 and has a 5.40 ERA.
 
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
Outfielder Jarod Perry has a 47 game on base streak. Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski has also hit safely in 20 consecutive games. Infielder Jonathan Ramon has hit safely in nine straight games.
 
ONE OF A KIND
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski leads the nation in batting average (.468) and on base percentage (.535).
 
TEN IN A ROW
After recording a 19-2 victory over UT-Martin on May 6, the Purple Aces have won 10 straight midweek games. The last UE loss in a mid-week contest was March 11 at Belmont.
 
SETTING THE BAR HIGH
Evansville won 19-2 against UT-Martin on May 6. Four different players recorded three hits each as UE won also won by their largest margin of the season.

SEASON SWEEP
With a 8-4 win against Indiana on April 28, the Aces completed a series sweep of the Hoosiers. UE also won 2-1 in 14 innings at IU on April 15.
 
MIGHTIER THAN THE OAKS
The UE offense came within one run of tying their season-high in a 15-2 victory over the Oakland City Mighty Oaks on Wednesday night. Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski piloted the Purple Aces, going 3-for-4 with a season-best three runs scored and a season-high tying four runs batted in. Outfielder Jarod Perry tied a career-high with three runs scored. First baseman Eric McKibban matched a career-best with three runs and had a season-high tying three RBIs. Infielder Stewart Nelson set new career-highs in hits (3) and runs (3). Williams' three RBIs was one shy of his career best (vs. WKU 2-22). Infielder Jonathan Ramon ended the night 2-for-4 with two more runs batted in.
 
ONE OF A KIND
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski leads the nation in batting average (.462) and on base percentage (.535).
 
CROWN THE KAZ AGAIN
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski was named back to back MVC Player of the Week on April 27.A Cary, Ill. native, Kaczmarski hit a team best .667 (12-for-18), leading the Purple Aces in runs (six), hits (12), doubles (four), triples (one), home runs (one), runs batted in (six), total bases (21), slugging percentage (1.167), on base percentage (.684), and stolen bases (one). His .455 batting average this season leads the country. He began the week by tallying three hits, and coming within a triple of the cycle in a 9-6 win over Northern Kentucky on April 22. He totaled two runs scored, a double, home run, and two runs batted in. Kaczmarski added another three hit day with a run scored, double, and RBI on Friday night at Bradley. After another hit on Saturday, Kaczmarski ended his week by going 5-for-5 at Bradley on Sunday, April 26. He was just a home run shy of being the first Purple Ace in program history to achieve the cycle, while also tying his career high for hits. Kaczmarski collected two doubles and a triple in the 10-0, mercy rule shortened seven inning road win over the Braves.

RISING UP THE CHARTS
With a 5-for-5 performance at Bradley on April 26, outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski tied his career high with five hits in the game. He also had two doubles, a triple, three runs scored and three runs batted in, falling just a home run shy of being the first Purple Ace to achieve the cycle in program history. His first inning triple was the 18^th in his UE career, passing Pat Schulz (1990-1993) for second most in program history. The two doubles for Kaczmarski gave him 61 in his time with Evansville, tying Phil Broshears 1997-2000) for fourth most in Purple Aces history.
 
HIGH FIVE
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski led UE to a 9-6 win over Northern Kentucky on April 22. He was 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. His third inning RBI double was the 58^th two-bagger of his Purple Aces career, moving him into sole possession of fifth most in program history.
 
TRIPLE THE FUN
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski hit his 17^th career triple on April 18, moving him into a tie with Pat Schulz (1990-93) for second most in program history. Greg Wallace (2008-11) holds the overall program record at 25.
 
KAZ'S COURT
Outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski was named MVC Player of the Week on April 20. He piloted the Purple Aces to four wins this past week, leading the team in batting average (.455), hits (10), triples (one), home runs (one), runs batted in (seven), total bases (17), slugging percentage (.733) and stolen bases (four).
 
LOW FIVE
UE committed five errors in the second game of a doubleheader with South Alabama on April 18, and all of the errors came in the sixth inning. Evansville overcame those errors to still defeat the Jaguars 9-5.
 
DOUBLEHEADER DAYS
Due to pending storms and sometimes unplayable field conditions, the Aces have had to play seven doubleheaders this season. UE is 9-5 in doubleheaders this spring. The Purple Aces played and won both games of a doubleheader at UALR on Feb. 14 winning the first contest 7-2 before finishing a sweep with a 16-3, seven inning victory in game two. UE also swept a doubleheader from Western Kentucky on Feb. 22 with an 11-10, 10 inning win in the opener and a 9-8 victory in the finale. The Aces then split doubleheaders with Western Illinois on March 6 (L 4-3, W 6-4) and on March 7 (W 10-0, L 3-0). UE lost both games of a doubleheader to Ohio State 4-3 and 12-2 on Sunday, March 15. Evansville split a doubleheader at Indiana State on March 28 (L 4-0, W 7-3) and most recently, swept a doubleheader vs. South Alabama on April 18 (W 6-5, W 9-5).
 
I…AM…#1 !
Outfielder Josh Jyawook received national recognition when he was selected as the #1 play on ESPN's Sportscenter. Playing at Indiana on April 15, Jyawook made a viral video catch that kept the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and no runners on, Craig Dedelow hit a fly ball to left field that Jyawook ran down as he crashed into the waist high wall and somersaulted into the IU bullpen. Jyawook then rose to his feet on the other side of the wall and showed the ball still in his glove.
 
BRODIE BASEBALL
Left-hander Brodie Harkness matched his career-high with 8.0 innings pitched on Sunday, April 12 against #20 Missouri State. The freshman allowed just two runs on nine hits, not walking a single batter and striking out three hitters. The left-hander yielded just a two-run home run in a 2-0 defeat. He retired 10 straight batters in the middle innings and nine of the last 10 hitters he faced.
 
STRIKEOUTS AND STRANDED RUNNERS
Despite a four run comeback on Saturday, April 12, the Aces were unable to eek out a win with #20 Missouri State. UE struck out 15 times in the 10 inning game, a new season high, including nine strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
 
GETTING JIGGY WITH IT
Outfielder Josh Jyawook had a career night on April 10 against #20 Missouri State. Even though UE totaled only seven hits, Jyawook tied a career-high with three hits and scored both of the Purple Aces runs on the night.
 
ONE HIT WONDER
With a first inning hit by pitch on April 8 against USI, outfielder Jarod Perry set the UE baseball program record with his 42^nd career HBP. The senior is just in his second season with the Purple Aces after transferring from Kaskaskia CC. He surpassed the mark previously held by outfielder Alex Acheson who played with UE from 2007-2010.  
 
HARKNESS HELPING MAKE HISTORY
Left-hander Brodie Harkness threw his first career complete game and second ever shutout in the UE 10-0 win at Illinois State on Sunday, April 5. The win secured a series win for the Purple Aces, their first road series win at Illinois State since 2007.
 
BIRTHDAY BOY
Outfielder Jarod Perry was 1-for-4 on his birthday, April 4, at Illinois State with a go-ahead RBI single in the third inning.
 
HIT PARADE
Evansville set a season-high with 21 hits in a 15-11 win at UT-Martin on March 31. Every UE starter had at least one RBI in the victory. Eight Aces starters scored at least one run as eight starters also recorded at least one hit each.
 
WEEK OF COMEBACK WINS
Evansville won three games this past week, all on the road, and all in comeback fashion. UE rallied from a two run deficit to score four runs in the ninth for a 4-2 victory at SIUE on Wednesday, March 25. The Purple Aces then surged back from a 3-1 hole on March 28 for a 7-3 victory at Indiana State. UE also overcame a 5-1 deficit on Sunday, March 29 for a 9-7 road series win at Sycamore Stadium.
 
NINTH INNING MAGIC
UE scored four runs in the ninth inning to turn a loss into a 4-2 road win at SIUE on March 25. The Aces drew closer with a bases loaded walk and tied the game on a wild pitch. Infielder Jonathan Ramon then hit the go-ahead two run single that created the Aces' victory.
 
BRILLIANT BILLO
Pitcher Ryan Billo threw a season-high 7.0 innings pitched at SIUE on March 25 and also set a new career-high with seven strikeouts. He received the no decision in the UE come-from-behind 4-2 win.
 
TWICE AS NICE
Left-hander Brodie Harkness was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on March 23, his second such honor this year. Harkness (3-1) had a career day in the Aces' 3-1 win over #18 Dallas Baptist on March 22. The freshman left-hander threw a career-high 8.0 innings in the victory, yielding just one unearned run on four hits. Harkness did not allow a hit outside of the infield until the eighth as he also struck out five batters in the win.
 
TOP 25 TRIUMPH
The Aces defeated #18 Dallas Baptist 3-1 on March 22, the first UE victory over a ranked opponent since winning at #4 Vanderbilt on Feb. 26, 2014. Pitcher Brodie Harkness threw 8.0 innings in the victory as outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski was 2-for-3 with a  triple and two runs batted in.
 
TIK-TOK
Time was against catcher Travis Tokarek who was hitless in his last 21 at-bats entering the Dallas Baptist series. The freshman stopped the skid with a three-run ninth-inning double that helped spark a five run rally. Tokarek had just two runs batted in prior to his bases-clearing double.
 
MANHANDLING MURRAY
The Aces matched a season-high with 15 hits against the Murray State Racers in a 15-2 victory on March 18. Eight starters had at least one hit each for the Aces who matched their largest win total (16-3 victory at UALR on Feb. 14).
 
WELL…THAT'S A FIRST
Utilityman Tyler Sullivan recorded the first hit of his college career on March 18 against Murray State. Sullivan's eight-inning pinch-hit single sparked a six run inning.
 
THE EVANSVILLE EMERSON ACES
Due to inclement weather, the Aces played seven of their first 11 games this year in Emerson, Ga. at the Perfect Games complex.
 
RAKIN' RAMON
With a pair of home runs this past weekend, infielder Jonathan Ramon now leads UE with three round-trippers this season. Ramon homered in the series opener at Ohio State on Friday night and also hit a home run in the series finale in the last game of the doubleheader on Sunday.
 
HARK THE MESSAGE
Pitcher Brodie Harkness was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 9. The UE freshman left-hander earned his team-high second win of the season with 6.0 scoreless innings of one hit baseball and a career-high eight strikeouts vs. Western Illinois on March 7. Harkness had two strikeouts in each of the first three innings on his way to a new career-high. He also retired the final 14 batters he faced in the Purple Aces 10-0 win over the Leathernecks.
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST
The Aces hung with #1 Vanderbilt into extra before falling 9-8 in 12 innings on March 3. UE took a ninth inning lead with a three-run home run from infielder Jonathan Ramon but a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth forced extras and a wild pitch in the 12th gave Vanderbilt the win.
 
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
Second baseman Boomer Synek had a 32-game on-base streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance at Belmont on March 11. He reached base safely in the first 11 games of the season and previous 21 games of the 2014 season. The prior game in which Synek did not reach base was on April 13, 2014 vs. Wichita State.
 
KORBIN CRUSHING IT
Outfielder Korbin Williams hit two home runs against Western Kentucky in the first game of a doubleheader on Feb. 22. Williams hit his first career home run in the fifth inning, a three run blast, and then hit the go-ahead home run in the 10th for an 11-10 Aces win.
 
NO JOSHING AROUND
Outfielder Josh Jyawook was named MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 16 for his opening series at UALR. Jyawook hit .385 with three runs scored, a grand slam home run, and eight runs batted in. His three runs scored and eight RBIs were an MVC best.
 
ON DECK
The Aces' next home game is Thursday, May 14 against Austin Peay at 6:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $7 as senior/youth tickets are just $5.
 
For all of the latest information on Evansville baseball, log on to GoPurpleAces.com or follow the team's Twitter account @UEAcesBaseball.