Game two set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Sydney Weatherford tossed a 3-hit shutout while the offense came alive with eight runs as the University of Evansville softball team defeated Valparaiso by a final of 8-0 on Friday at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field and James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
Weatherford threw the full 5-inning contest while striking out three batters. UE accumulated its eight runs on 10 hits. Jess Willsey, Zoe Frossard and Jenna Nink posted two hits apiece while Nink led the way with three runs batted in.
Sydney Weatherford pitched out of a jam in the first as the Beacons notched a pair of 2-out hits. Evansville took advantage in the second when Jenna Nink laced a 2-run double to center to put the Purple Aces on the board. Alexa Davis led the inning off with a walk before moving to second on a sac bunt by Zoe Frossard. With two outs, Marah Wood was walked and made a heads-up play to steal second on the play. Those walks set the table for Nink, who came through with the clutch 2-out, 2-RBI hit.
Davis opened the third inning with a solo home run, her first of the season. Frossard followed up with a single and Nink would bring her home with an RBI single. Jess Willsey added the fourth UE hit of the inning and Brooke Voss walked to load the bases for Taylor Howe. She added to the lead, forcing a walk for the 5th Evansville run.
Marah Wood’s team-leading fifth homer of the year saw the Aces extend the lead to 7-0 in the fourth. Base hits from Willsey and Brooke Voss set the table for Howe to walk it off and that is exactly what she did. Her single brought in Willsey for the walk-off run as UE took the 8-0 triumph in five innings.
Saturday’s game is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
