UNI Wins Series Finale Over UE Softball

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UNI Wins Series Finale Over UE Softball

Austin Peay up next on Wednesday

 CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Ashleigh Downing threw a complete game, but a home run in the 8th inning propelled UNI to a 3-2 win over the University of Evansville softball team on Sunday afternoon.

“I just want to say how proud of this team I am!  We came out and battled today and played pitch by pitch,” UE head coach Mat Mundell said.  “I love how we responded after a tough Saturday.  Now we just have to harness that fight every game.”

Downing went the distance in the circle, allowing just three runs on six hits.  She walked three and struck out one in her best outing with the Purple Aces (12-19, 4-5 MVC).

UNI (18-13, 6-3 MVC) opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning on an Ashley Chesser home run.  Two innings later, the Aces got rolling and took the lead.  Morgan Lambert led off with a single and was pinch run for by Ashlee Kawall.

Downing connected on a successful sacrifice bunt to move Kawall to second before she proceeded to steal third.  Courtney Land was hit by a pitch and recorded a steal after reaching base.  Hayli Scott later singled to right to plate Kawall for the first run of the game before Brittany Hay had an RBI knock of her own to give the Aces a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers came back with the tying run in the sixth before the winning run scored as Anna Varriano homered in the 8th inning.  Each team registered six hits on the day while both also garnered three walks.

Evansville welcomes Austin Peay to Cooper Stadium on Wednesday for a doubleheader that is slated to begin at 2 p.m.