UE softball sweeps doubleheader at Valparaiso
Aces look for series sweep on Saturday
VALPARAISO, Ind. – University of Evansville head softball coach Mat Mundell picked up his 200th victory with the Purple Aces program as his team swept a road doubleheader at Valparaiso on Friday.
Game 1 – UE 7, Valparaiso 5
With the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning, the Purple Aces scored four unanswered runs and hung on to take a 7-5 win in Friday’s opener.
After Valparaiso scored the opening run of the game in the bottom of the first, Evansville responded with a 3-run second inning. Jess Willsey led things off with a single and Eliza Piggott followed with a walk. Next up was Brooke Voss, who doubled to center field to bring in Willsey. Miriah Powell added a sacrifice fly that gave UE its first lead at 2-1 before Voss capped thins off as she crossed the plate on a passed ball.
It did not take long for the Beacons to counter as they tied the game on a 2-run single with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Evansville took advantage of a Valpo error to retake the lead in the third. Niki Bode reached on a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. She would later score on a VU error.
Willsey’s second hit of the game brought in Niki Bode in the fifth to extend the lead to two runs before a 2-run sixth frame pushed the lead to 7-3. Kynadee Warner and Powell scored on a dropped sacrifice fly off the bat of Callie Meinel. A solo home run by Valpo cut the deficit to three and they looked for a final rally in the bottom of the seventh. Two singles opened the frame before UE picked up the first out. On the ensuing play, Voss and Bode recorded the game-ending double play to secure the victory.
Cassidy Gall picked up the pitching victory. She tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Gracie Hollingsworth was credited with the save. In 2 2/3 innings, she allowed two earned runs. Kate Ridgway made the start. In two frames, she allowed three runs, two being earned, on one hit. As a team, UE posted seven hits with Willsey going 2-4. Bode led the way with two runs scored.
Game 2 – UE 6, Valparaiso 4
Jess Willsey delivered an RBI double in the top of the 8th inning that proved to be the game winner in the second contest against the Beacons.
Patient at-bats in the first inning led to four walks and a 2-0 lead for the Aces. Taylor Howe, Niki Bode, and Morgan Adams each drew walks to load the bases with no outs. Eliza Piggott recorded UE’s fourth walk of the frame to bring in the first runoff the game before Brooke Voss was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run.
Valparaiso had its first scoring threat in the bottom half of the second, picking up two hits while loading the bases with two outs. Sydney Weatherford forced a flyout to end the frame. Bode led the top of the third off with a double and crossed the plate on a Beacon error to extend the advantage to 3-0.
Looking to tack on some extra insurance, the Aces loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but a flyout kept the lead at 3-0. Valpo capitalized in the bottom of the inning, breaking through with two outs. After loading the bases, a 2-run single cut the UE lead to a single run. Evansville got that run back when Howe crossed the plate in the sixth.
Trailing by two entering the bottom of the seventh, the Beacons rallied to tie the game on a 2-run single with two outs. Despite the late rally by VU, the Aces did not give up. Howe led the top of the 8th off with a single, but the next two batters recorded outs. That brought WIllsey to the plate, who delivered an RBI double to put UE back in front. Eliza Piggott added an RBI triple to push the lead to two. In the bottom of the frame, reliever Kate Ridgway retired the side in order to secure the win.
UE finished with seven hits with Willsey and Piggott picking up two apiece. Sydney Weatherford made the start, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Elle Jarrett threw the next 1 1/3 frames before Kate Ridgway registered the final five outs on the way to her fifth win of the season. On Saturday, the Aces look for the series sweep as the teams square off at 12 p.m.
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
