Friday, May 20
Akron, Ohio
1 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Akron
Mitchell Spencer
Photo by: Rachel Von Art
'Dons Zip Over to Akron for Non-League Series
5/19/2022 1:14:00 PM | Baseball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne baseball team (17-33) closes the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Akron. It will be the final tune-up for the Mastodons before postseason play. The schedule for the series has been adjusted from the originally announced schedule due to predicted rain.
When: Friday, May 20 | 1 p.m. | doubleheader
Saturday, May 21 | noon
Weather: High of 91, rain possible on Saturday
Series History: Only meeting, an 8-6 Akron victory in Akron on March 8, 2007
Live Stats: Link
Watch (Game One): Link
Scouting the Zips: Akron is 13-40 on the season. They are 11-29 in MAC play. The Zips have lost nine consecutive games with their last victory coming May 1 against Kent State 7-3. Bryant Shellenbarger is hitting a team-best .284. As a team, Akron is hitting .245. They own an 8.96 team ERA.
Probable Starters:
Mastodons: RHP Rex Stills (3.22 ERA, 1-2), RHP JD Deany (5.28 ERA, 5-2), RHP Mitchell Spencer (6.21 ERA, 2-4)
Zips: RHP Taed Heydinger (8.76 ERA, 2-9), RHP Jackson Hickert (9.99 ERA, 1-4), RHP Conor Steinbaugh (2.67 ERA, 1-3)
Everyday Jack: Jack Lang has played in 200 career games. He is only the third Mastodon to reach the 200 mark. When he reaches 202 games played he will move into second all-time in program history in games played, passing Kristian Gayday's 201 from 2011-14. The program leader in games played is Shane Trevino (2012-16) with 234.
Jarrett
EZ 4 JD: Only once in league play did JD Deany have a start allowing more than three earned runs. He picked up his first career complete game in game one at UIC. He went the distance in the seven inning contest, allowing two runs for the 'Dons to win 3-2
'Dons Dig The Long Ball:
- The Mastodons are second in the league in home runs with 47.
- The total ranks third in program history for home runs in a season. The 2010 team hit 55 home runs. The 1998 team hit 49 home runs.
- Nine different Mastodons have a home run this season.
- Jack Lang and Ben Higgins are tied for third in the league with 10 home runs each. They are tied for seventh in program history for home runs in a season.
Record Time: The Mastodons recorded three triples in game one at Milwaukee on April 9, a new school record for triples in a game.
Cade Recognized: Cade Fitzpatrick was selected as one of 10 position players in the Midwest having a breakout season by www.D1Baseball.com.
In League Games:
- Ben Higgins is tied for first in slugging (.660) and ranks second in hits (39) and third in OPS (1.112). He is tied for the lead in home runs with eight.
- Cade Fitzpatrick is tied for third in RBIs (26) and ranks ninth in batting average (.355).
- Jack Lang is tied for third in runs scored with 26.
- JD Deany is second in batters struck out looking (15) and fourth in opposing batting average (.236). His 4.17 league ERA is seventh best.
- Jacob Myer has given up only eight walks in league play, tied for fewest among qualified pitchers.
- Brian Skelton owns a team-best 2.38 ERA with a 4-0 mark over 22.2 innings with one save.
More on Skelly:
- Brian Skelton never allowed more than one earned run in 11 appearances in league play.
- Skelton has walked only one batter in his last eight appearances.
- Nine of his 14 appearances on the season have been longer than one inning.
3 In 2 In 1!: Twice this season a Mastodon has hit three home runs in a doubleheader. Braedon Blackford hit three home runs in a doubleheader against California Baptist (Feb. 26). Cade Fitzpatrick hit three home runs in a twin bill against Youngstown State (March 20). Fitzpatrick was named one of the best hitters of March 20th by D1Baseball.com.
Miller Time: Justin Miller owns 178 strikeouts, third most in program history. In second place is Samuel Walker with 179 from 2008-11. Jason Horvath owns the program record with 210 from 2001-04.
Two in a Row: Jacob Myer was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week on April 12 after not allowing any runs in 8.2 innings. He got the win against Michigan and Milwaukee. On April 19 Ben Higgins was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week. He went 9-of-13 (.692 batting average) with a .750 on-base percentage, 1.154 slugging percentage and a 1.904 OPS. He had two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored.
Smart Mastodons: Alex Evenson and Garett Lake were named to the 2022 Horizon League Academic All-League team.
Up Next: The 'Dons will play in the 2022 Horizon League Baseball Championship. The event opens Wednesday, May 25.
When: Friday, May 20 | 1 p.m. | doubleheader
Saturday, May 21 | noon
Weather: High of 91, rain possible on Saturday
Series History: Only meeting, an 8-6 Akron victory in Akron on March 8, 2007
Live Stats: Link
Watch (Game One): Link
Scouting the Zips: Akron is 13-40 on the season. They are 11-29 in MAC play. The Zips have lost nine consecutive games with their last victory coming May 1 against Kent State 7-3. Bryant Shellenbarger is hitting a team-best .284. As a team, Akron is hitting .245. They own an 8.96 team ERA.
Probable Starters:
Mastodons: RHP Rex Stills (3.22 ERA, 1-2), RHP JD Deany (5.28 ERA, 5-2), RHP Mitchell Spencer (6.21 ERA, 2-4)
Zips: RHP Taed Heydinger (8.76 ERA, 2-9), RHP Jackson Hickert (9.99 ERA, 1-4), RHP Conor Steinbaugh (2.67 ERA, 1-3)
Everyday Jack: Jack Lang has played in 200 career games. He is only the third Mastodon to reach the 200 mark. When he reaches 202 games played he will move into second all-time in program history in games played, passing Kristian Gayday's 201 from 2011-14. The program leader in games played is Shane Trevino (2012-16) with 234.
Jarrett
EZ 4 JD: Only once in league play did JD Deany have a start allowing more than three earned runs. He picked up his first career complete game in game one at UIC. He went the distance in the seven inning contest, allowing two runs for the 'Dons to win 3-2
'Dons Dig The Long Ball:
- The Mastodons are second in the league in home runs with 47.
- The total ranks third in program history for home runs in a season. The 2010 team hit 55 home runs. The 1998 team hit 49 home runs.
- Nine different Mastodons have a home run this season.
- Jack Lang and Ben Higgins are tied for third in the league with 10 home runs each. They are tied for seventh in program history for home runs in a season.
Record Time: The Mastodons recorded three triples in game one at Milwaukee on April 9, a new school record for triples in a game.
Cade Recognized: Cade Fitzpatrick was selected as one of 10 position players in the Midwest having a breakout season by www.D1Baseball.com.
In League Games:
- Ben Higgins is tied for first in slugging (.660) and ranks second in hits (39) and third in OPS (1.112). He is tied for the lead in home runs with eight.
- Cade Fitzpatrick is tied for third in RBIs (26) and ranks ninth in batting average (.355).
- Jack Lang is tied for third in runs scored with 26.
- JD Deany is second in batters struck out looking (15) and fourth in opposing batting average (.236). His 4.17 league ERA is seventh best.
- Jacob Myer has given up only eight walks in league play, tied for fewest among qualified pitchers.
- Brian Skelton owns a team-best 2.38 ERA with a 4-0 mark over 22.2 innings with one save.
More on Skelly:
- Brian Skelton never allowed more than one earned run in 11 appearances in league play.
- Skelton has walked only one batter in his last eight appearances.
- Nine of his 14 appearances on the season have been longer than one inning.
3 In 2 In 1!: Twice this season a Mastodon has hit three home runs in a doubleheader. Braedon Blackford hit three home runs in a doubleheader against California Baptist (Feb. 26). Cade Fitzpatrick hit three home runs in a twin bill against Youngstown State (March 20). Fitzpatrick was named one of the best hitters of March 20th by D1Baseball.com.
Miller Time: Justin Miller owns 178 strikeouts, third most in program history. In second place is Samuel Walker with 179 from 2008-11. Jason Horvath owns the program record with 210 from 2001-04.
Two in a Row: Jacob Myer was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week on April 12 after not allowing any runs in 8.2 innings. He got the win against Michigan and Milwaukee. On April 19 Ben Higgins was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week. He went 9-of-13 (.692 batting average) with a .750 on-base percentage, 1.154 slugging percentage and a 1.904 OPS. He had two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored.
Smart Mastodons: Alex Evenson and Garett Lake were named to the 2022 Horizon League Academic All-League team.
Up Next: The 'Dons will play in the 2022 Horizon League Baseball Championship. The event opens Wednesday, May 25.
~ Feel The Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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