Game time set for 5 p.m.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Another home game is on the docket for the University of Evansville softball team as the Purple Aces are set to welcome SIU Edwardsville to Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium on Tuesday. First pitch is 5 p.m.
After opening the season at 0-17, the Purple Aces have won 8 of their last 10 games to improve to 8-19. UE has enjoyed a strong start to its Missouri Valley Conference slate, winning four of its first five games. Following Tuesday’s non-conference contest, the Aces travel to Belmont for a 3-game series this weekend in Nashville.
The 4-1 start in MVC play would not be possible without the efforts of Lacy Smith. Wednesday’s win over Indiana State saw the outfielder record the game-tying and game-winning hits on her way to three RBI. Smith completed the week with another clutch hit to secure the series sweep over Valparaiso. With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 7th, Smith’s infield single scored the game-winning run.
Sydney Weatherford went 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA in the last week of play for the Purple Aces. Her efforts on 3/13 versus Indiana State resulted in a 6-5 Purple Aces win. She went four innings allowing three runs on six hits. She followed that up with two complete game shutout victories over Valparaiso. On Friday, she threw a 5-inning 3-hitter while fanning three batters with no walks. Sunday’s finale saw her go the full 7 frames with one run scoring on five hits while adding three strikeouts.
The Cougars enter the game with a 9-17 mark while sitting at 1-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. SIUE has dropped seven in a row including a 3-game home series against Southeast Missouri State over the weekend. Paige Rocha leads the team with a .412 batting average and 19 runs scored.
