TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State continues its eight-game home stand this weekend as the Sycamores take on Evansville in a key Missouri Valley series against the Purple Aces. The three-game series is set to begin on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m., while Saturday is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games are set to be carried live on ESPN3 and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Illinois Recap
Randall Diaz homered and drove in four runs, while Grant Magill doubled twice as Indiana State scored early and often in Tuesday's 12-6 win over visiting Illinois at Bob Warn Field.
 
The Sycamores led by double-digits by the midway point of the game after scoring multiple runs in the first, third, fourth, and fifth frames to build the 12-1 lead. Diaz drove in RBI in each of his first three plate appearances to highlight seven different Indiana State players to drive in runs in the game in the midweek win over the Illini.
 
Brennyn Cutts was dominant in his second consecutive start as the freshman surrendered just two hits while striking out three in a planned three-inning outing. The Sycamore right-hander has allowed just three hits and one run over his last nine complete innings on the mound while adding 13 strikeouts dating back to last week against Indiana.
 
Josue Urdaneta added his team-leading 17th multi-hit game of the season with his 3-for-5 day at the plate to lead the Sycamores, while Ross, Diaz, Aaron Beck, and Magill all posted multi-hit nights. Beck reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances on the evening and added his first two stolen bases of the year.
 
Jake Ridgway, Jared Spencer, Matt Gauer, Jack Parisi, and Joey Hurth all saw time on the mound on the evening with the ISU pitching staff combining for 13 strikeouts on the evening.
 
Scouting Evansville
Evansville enters the weekend with a 19-16 overall record, including a 10-10 mark away from German American Bank Field in Evansville, Ind. The Purple Aces started off the season slow in dropping seven of their first eight games, but Evansville has turned the page recently since opening Missouri Valley play. Since March 29, Evansville hast posted a 10-2 stretch with series sweeps over Michigan State (sweep) and Missouri State, while also picking up wins over Austin Peay, Indiana, Southern Illinois, and Butler.
 
The Aces were scheduled to take on Purdue in a midweek contest that was called due to inclement weather, prior to the focus ahead on the weekend. Evansville currently sits in a three-way tie for second in the Missouri Valley standings through their first two weekends with a 4-2 mark in conference play. The Aces were picked seventh in the MVC preseason poll with 19 total points, while senior right-hander Shane Gray earned preseason MVC honors heading into the year. Evansville currently sits 92nd overall in the NCAA RPI standings in the contest entering the weekend.
 
Evansville currently sits middle of the pack in the team statistical categories in both hitting and pitching at this point in the 2022 season. The Aces are hitting .275 from the plate and lead the Valley with 80 doubles while adding 44 home runs. On the mound, Evansville has posted a 5.57 ERA while opponents are hitting .289 against the Aces' staff on the year.
 
Mark Shallenberger, Brent Widder, and Tanner Craig have been the bats to watch at the plate for Evansville in the 2022 season. Shallenberger is among the Valley leaders with a .389 batting average to go with 14 doubles and eight home runs, while Craig leads the Aces with 11 home runs to go with a .301 average. Widder has added a .322 average and enters the weekend on an eight-game hitting streak.
 
Shane Gray remains the ace to watch on the mound with a team-high nine starts and a 5-3 mark on the season. Nick Smith has also posted nine starts in 2022 with a 4-2 mark and a 4.20 ERA over his 49.1 innings pitched. Jakob Meyer has been the team's primary closer late in the contest with four saves to go with a 2.25 ERA, while Drew Dominik (1-1, 3.05 ERA) and Nate Hardman (1-2, 6.00 ERA) have both posted a team-high 16 appearances on the year.
 
Evansville Top Player
It all starts on the mound for Evansville and senior right-hander Shane Gray will be one to watch in a potential Friday night matchup with Indiana State ace Matt Jachec. Gray has gone at least six innings in six starts in the 2022 season, while adding at least six strikeouts in six different contest, including a season-high 10 against Illinois Chicago back on March 4. Gray is coming off his most recent outing, an 8.0-inning stretch with nine strikeouts, while allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) in Evansville's 6-4 win over Missouri State.
 
Opponent History
Indiana State leads the all-time series 110-67 over the Sycamores dating back to the first contest back on May 10, 1911. The Sycamores have won each of the last two series and four of the last five against the Aces at Bob Warn Field. ISU dropped the opener in both contests against Evansville, but rebounded to take the final two games in both 2016 and 2018 to win the series.
 
Last Time against Evansville
Indiana State and Evansville split the four-game series in the 2021 season at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium played over the May 20-22 weekend. The Sycamores won the opener against Evansville thanks to an eight-run second inning and a strong outing from Geremy Guerrero in the 14-7 win. The Aces rebounded to take both games in Friday's doubleheader before the Sycamores rallied back to take the finale. ISU rebounded from an early eight-run deficit to outscore the Aces over the final seven innings thanks to a pair of Max Wright home runs and a strong relief outing from Tyler Grauer (4.1 IP, 3 Ks)
 
MVC Recap
Indiana State boasts a 5-1 mark in Missouri Valley play and sits atop the conference standings through the first two weekends. The Sycamores took two of the three contests against Illinois State in Indiana State's opening weekend against the Redbirds over April 1-3. After a midweek win at Purdue, the Sycamores followed up with a three-game sweep at Valparaiso to lead the Valley standings. ISU still has home weekend series against Evansville (Apr. 22-24), Missouri State (Apr. 29-May 1), and Dallas Baptist (May 18-20), while adding road series at Bradley (May 6-8) and Southern Illinois (May 13-15).
 
Non-Conference Round-Up
Indiana State has posted a 15-8 overall record in non-conference play following their midweek win over Illinois. The Sycamores have posted a 6-3 record in neutral site contests and a 7-2 home mark at Bob Warn Field this season, while sitting 2-3 in true road games. Highlighting Indiana State's non-conference schedule includes wins over BYU, Marshall, Merrimack, Minnesota (twice), Michigan, Wright State, SEMO (twice), Kansas (twice), Memphis (twice), Purdue, and Illinois.
 
Friendly Confines
Indiana State improved to 9-3 overall inside the friendly confines of Bob Warn Field this past week as the Sycamores topped the visiting Illinois Fighting Illini on Tuesday night, 12-6. The Sycamores are hitting .296 as a team at home while averaging 6.7 runs and 9.7 hits per game over their 12 home contests. Indiana State has posted 45 extra-base hits with 29 doubles, three triples, and 13 home runs on the year.
 
Sean Ross (.415) and Aaron Beck (.400) have been lights out at Bob Warn Field this season, while seven different Indiana State regulars are hitting above .300 at home. Ross has been particularly effective with a team-high 17 hits and eight doubles coming at home, while Randall Diaz has come on strong with three home runs and a team-high 12 RBI. Additionally, Josue Urdaneta (15) and Diego Gines (15) are among the team hits leaders in home games this season.
 
The home field has also been particularly kind to the Sycamores pitching staff with Matt Jachec (3-0, 1.19 ERA) leading the way. The redshirt sophomore has boasted a team-best 22:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his three starts, while Brennyn Cutts (1-1, 2.13 ERA), and Luke Patzner (1-0, 2.45 ERA) have also been effective on the mound. Overall, six different ISU pitchers have reached double-digit strikeouts in home games, while the Sycamores are allowing opponents to hit just .216 from the plate at Bob Warn Field.

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