UE falls in both contests
PEORIA, Ill. – A long day on the field that included a 12-inning marathon saw the University of Evansville softball team drop both games to Bradley at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
Game 1 – Bradley 10, UE 9 (12 innings)
In a back-and-forth contest that saw multiple rallies by each team, it was Bradley who had the final one as they took a 10-9 win in 12 innings to open the series. Things remained scoreless through 5 ½ innings before the game took a turn in the bottom of the sixth.
Before that time, UE had multiple opportunities to get on the board. The Purple Aces put two runners on in three of the first five innings while Miriah Powell had the first hit of the game for UE in the second. Evansville pitcher Gracie Hollingsworth kept the Braves scoreless through the first five innings, but they broke through with three runs in the sixth.
Down to its final three outs, UE erupted for seven runs in the top of the 7th to go up 7-3. Taylor Howe and Morgan Adams each walked while Niki Bode added a hit to load the bases with no outs. Howe and Bode would score when Eliza Piggott hit into a fielder’s choice that resulted in a Bradley error. Jess Willsey came to the plate and delivered a 3-run home run that gave the Aces their first advantage of the game.
Evansville continued to apply the pressure in the inning as Howe added a 2-run single that extended the lead to 7-3. In the bottom of the frame, Bradley staged a rally of its own, scoring four times to send the game into extra innings. Cassidy Gall entered the contest in the 8th and kept her team in the game as the teams battled to the 12th inning.
Powell delivered an RBI single while Abby Bode hit a sac fly that gave the Aces a 9-7 lead. Once again, Bradley would storm back. The first four batters reached to cut the deficit to one. Hollingsworth re-entered the game and picked up two quick outs, but an error and single would give the Braves the victory.
Niki Bode had three of UE’s 12 hits in the game while Howe and Powell recorded two apiece. Willsey led the way with three RBI.
Game 2 – Bradley 10, UE 6
Evansville took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth before the Braves scored nine times on their way to a 10-6 win in game two.
Kynadee Warner led the top of the third off with a walk before stealing second. She would cross the plate on Morgan Adams’ 2-out single. Zoe Frossard added a sacrifice fly in the fourth that pushed lead to 2-0.
Jess Willsey continued her strong doubleheader with a 2-run double in the fifth. Eliza Piggott and Adams scored on the play to double the lead at 4-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Braves rallied with nine runs to take a 9-4 lead.
Despite the deficit, the Aces did not give up. Two bases-loaded walks made it a 9-6 game in favor of the Braves heading into the bottom of the 6th. A solo home run pushed the BU lead to 10-6 and that would be the final. UE had two hits in the game with Willsey and Adams picking those up. The Aces accumulated 11 walks with Frossard and Bode registering two apiece.
Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.
