Rubber match set for Saturday at 11 a.m.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Pitching was the name of the game on Friday as the University of Evansville and Missouri State softball squads split a doubleheader at Killian Stadium.
Missouri State (21-14, 9-5 MVC) earned the win in game one by a 2-1 final before the Purple Aces (17-23, 8-6 MVC) took the second contest by a final of 3-1.
“The ladies did their job on the road to get the split in day one,†UE head coach Mat Mundell said. “They have given themselves a chance to win the series tomorrow. We beat ourselves in game one, so that was our focus for the second game.â€
In the bottom half of the first in game one, the Bears opened up the day’s scoring as the first run of the day came across on a wild pitch. Evansville notched just two hits through the opening four frames before seeing two reach base in the top of the fifth. MSU starter Kaitlin Beason was able to get out of the jam and keep the score at 1-0.
MSU added an insurance run in the sixth when Madison Jones scored on a Beason fielder’s choice. Michal Luckett singled to start the seventh and would later score on a base knock from Chandra Parr. Parr was thrown out at third on the play. Following a single by Bailee Bostic, Tess Hupe had a 12-pitch at-bat, but lined out for the second out before MSU held on for the 2-1 triumph.
The Aces finished with a 6-5 edge in hits in the contest. Starting pitcher Morgan Florey was in the circle for the duration, allowing two earned runs while striking out five. Parr was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game.
After being held to one run in the opening match-up, UE got off to a fast start in the second game, plating three runs in the first inning. Hayli Scott, Chandra Parr and Ashleigh Downing each had RBI’s in the frame.
Following the quick start by the offense, Ashleigh Downing took care of business in the circle. The sophomore did not allow a hit until the bottom of the fifth inning. Missouri State pushed their lone run of the game across the plate in that inning before Downing finished off the job to earn her third win of the season. She tossed all seven innings and allowed the one run on four hits while fanning three batters.
UE outhit the Bears, 6-4, in the game. Parr had two more hits in the contest and went 5-6 in the doubleheader.
A single game completes the series on Saturday at 11 a.m.
