UE heads to Drake next weekend to complete regular season
 Freshman Jessica Fehr hit a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to push the University of Evansville softball team to a 4-3 win over Valparaiso on Sunday at Cooper Stadium.
Fehr’s single was the difference before Izzy Vetter limited the damage in the seventh to pick up the UE (19-26, 9-13 MVC) win. Evansville had seven hits on the day with Katie McLean and Haley Woolf posting two apiece. Valparaiso (15-27, 4-19 MVC) recorded six hits on the day, three coming off the bat of Jaina Westphal.
Evansville had the first threat of the day, loading the bases with one out in the first. Katie McLean and Haley Woolf each singled before McKenzie Johnson walked, but VU starter Jenna Edwards got out of the jam unscathed. Valparaiso notched their first hit in the top of the third when Jaina Westphal led off with a double to deep center. Aces starter Emily Lockhart was able to retire the next three batters in order to keep the game scoreless.
In the third, the Aces were first to get on the board. Eryn Gould and McLean walked to lead off the inning. Haley Woolf singled to left field to score Gould on a close play at the plate. McLean would extend the lead to 2-0 when she crossed the plate on a McKenzie Johnson ground out.
Valpo plated their first run in the ensuing inning. The Crusaders loaded the bases with one out and scored when Taylor Herschbach reached on a fielder’s choice. They would tie the game at 2-2 on a Westphal single.
The score remained 2-2 until the bottom of the sixth when McKenzie Johnson reached on a walk and was pinch run for by Mackenzie McFeron. Halie Fain used her quickness to reach on a bunt single putting two on with no outs. Allison Daggett laid down a perfect sacrifice to move the pair to second and third to bring up Jessica Fehr. The freshman responded with one of the biggest hits of her career, singling to left to put UE back in front.
Carly Trepanier and the Crusaders battled back in the seventh as she led the inning off with a home run to right. Valparaiso drew two walks before loading the bases with one out, but Izzy Vetter was able to escape with any further damage to clinch the win.
A trip to Des Moines, Iowa for a 3-game set against Drake will complete the regular season for the Aces. The series begins on Friday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader before Saturday’s finale begins at 12 p.
