1988 Evansville Purple Aces baseball team explained

Mode:baseball
Year:1988
Team:Evansville Purple Aces
Conference:Midwestern Collegiate Conference
Division:South Division
Short Conf:MCC
Record:44–20
Conf Record:11–1
Head Coach:Jim Brownlee
Hc Year:9th
Stadium:Bosse Field
Champion:MCC South Division champions
MCC regular season champions
MCC tournament champions
Tourney:NCAA Tempe Regional
Tourney Result:1–2
Prev Year:1987
Next Year:1989

The 1988 Evansville Purple Aces baseball team represented the University of Evansville as a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Purple Aces played their home games at Bosse Field. The team was coached by Jim Brownlee in his ninth season at Evansville.

After going 39–17 (11–1 MCC) in the regular season, Evansville would win the MCC South Division title and the MCC Tournament. After receiving an automatic bid, Evansville reached the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time since transitioning to Division I in 1977. In the Tempe Regional, Evansville would upset No. 1 Arizona State before losing back-to-back games to UNLV and Central Michigan.[1] Evansville would finish the season with a 44–20 record. As of 2024, 44 wins is still the most in the program's history. They also set team records for shutouts (18), complete games (37), and lowest ERA (2.99).[2] [3]

Following the season, pitcher Andy Benes was selected first overall by the San Diego Padres during the 1988 Major League Baseball draft, marking the first time that an Evansville player was selected in the first round of the MLB draft.

Schedule and results

Legend
  Evansville win
  Evansville loss
Bold Evansville team member
Non-conference game
1988 Evansville Purple Aces game log: 44–20
Regular season: 39–17
Postseason: 5–3

Awards and honors

John Bauser
Andy Benes
Jeff Breivogel
Jim Brownlee
Jim Burger
Kenny Fields
Craig Fischer
John Olson
Rob Maurer
John Schultheis
Brad Tyler

1988 MLB Draft

See main article: 1988 Major League Baseball draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionTeam
1 1 RHP San Diego Padres
6 141 1B Texas Rangers

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andy Benes: Making his name in Evansville . goaces.com . June 28, 2024 . 14 October 2024.
  2. Web site: 2021 Baseball Record Book . gopurpleaces.com . 14 October 2024.
  3. Web site: 1988 Evansville Purple Aces . thebaseballcube.com . 14 October 2024.