LAST TIME OUT: Western baseball went from February to October in Auburn, Ala. at the Snowmaha Classic hosted by Auburn University. The original schedule had the Leathernecks slated to play a three-game set in Stillwater, Okla. against No. 10 Oklahoma State. However, pending winter weather forced the series to be moved, and schedules to be changed. In Friday's series opener, Western was led by the pitching of junior transfer Joe Mortillaro who went five innings with nine strikeouts. The Purple and Gold led the game 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh. However, OSU plated four runs in its half of the inning and held on to win 4-3. On Saturday, as part of the location change, Western took on Jacksonville State for the first time in program history. The Leathernecks trailed by four runs after five innings. In the sixth inning WIU put together a three-run rally sparked by a leadoff double from JJ Reimer, but would leave the bases loaded, still trailing 4-3. A seven-run eighth for the Gamecocks put the game out of reach as Western would fall 11-3. Sunday's finale against Oklahoma State turned into a pitcher's duel as WIU's Preston Church carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and posted career-highs in innings pitched (6) and strikeouts (6). However, the Cowboys would piece together five runs as they carried a no-hitter into the eighth. Western's bats would fall silent and Oklahoma State would win 5-0.

SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES: UE (4-3) enters the weekend series with Western coming off an extra-innings loss to No. 1 Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. Evansville pulled ahead in the top of the ninth with a Jonathan Ramon three-run home run. However, Vanderbilt would tie it with a solo shot of its own in the bottom half and then win on a walk-off wild pitch in the 12th. Prior to their midweek game, the Purple Aces took two out of three from Western Kentucky on Feb. 21-22 in a series that was played in Emerson, Ga. before having their three-game series against Oakland canceled due to weather. Wes Carroll is in his 7th season as head coach of UE. He has led the Purple Aces to winning seasons each of the past three years. Freshman outfielder Korbin Williams leads the Evansville offense with two home runs, a double, five RBI, and seven runs in just 19 at-bats. On the mound, senior RHP Matthew Rodgers carries a 1-0 record in two starts with a 2.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts in nine innings pitched.  

SERIES HISTORY: The WIU-UE basball rivalry is still relatively young with just six meetings between the teams in program history. The Leathernecks trail 5-1. Western and Evansville last faced-off in the 2014 season, Feb. 28 - Mar. 1. Evansville took games one and three by a score of 1-0. The Purple and Gold won game two 12-1 with Sunday's game four getting canceled due to rain. Before that the teams last played each other in 1997 at Evansville with UE sweeping Western 3-0.

HOMETOWN BOY: Leatherneck head coach Ryan Brownlee was a four-year starter for the Purple Aces from 1994-97. Brownlee played in 223 games in four seasons with 891 at-bats, a .331 career batting average, 94 stolen bases, 189 runs scored and 14 triples, all ranking in UE's 'Top 10'. Brownlee also earned the William V. Slyker award as Evansville most outstanding male athlete in 1997 following his senior year.

A FAMILY AFFAIR: While at Evansville, Ryan Brownlee played for his father Jim Brownlee, who was also assisted by Ryan's brother Tim.  Jim Brownlee spent 23 years as the head coach at UE, recording 701 career wins during that time. He has also assisted at Illinois State and at Iowa. 

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE: Junior transfer RHP Joe Mortillaro debuted as a Leatherneck against Middle Tennessee State with just one strikeout in 3.2 innings pitched. The Middle Village, N.Y. native  followed up his mediocre debut with a five inning, nine strikeout outing against No. 10 Oklahoma State on Friday (Feb. 27). Mortillaro leads all starters with a 3.12 ERA and is tied for the team lead in strikeouts with 10.

COWBOYS DOWN SWINGING: Against Oklahoma State, Western Illinois pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts in game one on Feb. 27. That is the most strikeouts against any Oklahoma State team in over two years. In game two, Preston Church's career-high six strikeouts brought the series total to 23.