UE Returns Home On Wednesday To Face Indiana State
The University of Evansville starting pitchers Emily Lockhart and Izzy Vetter combined to give up just four runs over 12 innings of work on Saturday, but Southern Illinois was able to take a pair of close games to sweep the series over the Purple Aces softball squad.
SIU (23-9, 8-3 MVC) took game one by a 2-1 final before earning a 2-0 shutout in game two over UE (12-22, 2-9 MVC).
Emily Lockhart pitched a gem in game one, giving up just two runs in the complete-game effort. Evansville notched one run on six hits while the Salukis finished with two runs on eight hits. The first threat for UE came in the third when Mackenzie McFeron and Eryn Gould posted back-to-back singles with one out. SIU got out of the jam by forcing a ground out and strikeout.
In the fifth, the Aces stranded two more batters before SIU took advantage in the bottom of the frame. Maddy Vermejan hit a solo home run before the squad added a second to break the scoreless tie. UE was able to cut the deficit in half in the sixth on a Lindsay Renneisen home run, but the Salukis held on for the 2-1 victory.
Izzy Vetter had a stellar outing in game two, tossing 5 2/3 innings of 3-hit, 1-run ball, but the Aces were unable to push any runs across the plate in a 2-0 loss. The Salukis plated a run in the fourth and sixth frames to take the win. Evansville received hits from Gould, McFeron and McKenzie Johnson.
Evansville looks to get back on track with five home games over the next week. UE welcomes Indiana State to Cooper Stadium for a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday before taking on Bradley in a 3-game series next weekend.
