In Saturday’s rubber match at Missouri State, the University of Evansville softball team was able to hang on for a 6-4 win to clinch the series against the Bears at Killian Stadium.
“This was a big road series win. They are a really good team so for us to come here and get two out of three is a big deal,” Aces head coach Mat Mundell said. “Hopefully we can carry this momentum into our homestand.”
Evansville (18-23, 9-6 MVC) earned its second MVC road series in a row with the win as the Aces recorded six runs on 11 hits. Chandra Parr had three more hits in four at-bats while Hayli Scott, Brittany Hay and Ashlee Kawall notched two hits apiece. Hay along with Tess Hupe each scored twice.
Following a scoreless first inning, Morgan Lambert got the Aces on the board in the second. Her sixth long ball of the season led off the frame and gave UE a 1-0 lead. The score remained that way until the top of the fourth. That is when Brittany Hay homered to left center to extend the advantage to 3-0.
Missouri State (21-15, 9-6 MVC) scored their first run in the bottom of the frame as a Darian Frost single cut into their deficit but Evansville got the run right back in the sixth. Ashlee Kawall hit a leadoff triple before scoring on a single by pinch hitter Bailee Bostic.
Hayli Scott added to the lead later in the inning as a 2-run double scored Hay and Tess Hupe to give UE its largest advantage of the day at 6-1. The Bears were able to match UE’s 3-run top of the 6th with three of their own in the bottom of the inning, making it a 6-4 game going to the seventh.
After the Aces left a runner stranded at third in the top half of the seventh, Missouri State looked to take advantage in their final at-bat. MSU put runners on first and second with no outs before advancing to second and third one out later. Morgan Florey was able to end the threat as UE clinched the series with a 6-4 win.
Florey went all seven innings allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits. She struck out six.
Starting on Wednesday, the Aces are home for eight of their next nine games as they take on Southern Illinois in a doubleheader slated to begin at 3 p.m. Next weekend, UE welcomes Indiana State to Cooper Stadium for a 3-game set.
