Aces walk it off in series finale
UE takes final game of the series
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing by a score of 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the University of Evansville softball team rallied for two runs to take a 3-2 win over UIC in Sunday’s series finale at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.
Zoe Frossard scored the tying run in the 7th, coming home when Jess Willsey reached on an error. Alexa Davis scored the winning run, coming home on a wild pitch. As a team, the Purple Aces accumulated six hits in the game while holding the Flames to four. Brooke Voss had two hits while scoring a run.
UE had its first scoring opportunity in the first as Willsey reached on an error and Marah Wood followed with a bunt single to put runners on second and third before a flyout kept things scoreless. The Flames plated the first run of the day in the top of the second and were poised to add more in the third.
UIC loaded the bases with no outs as they looked to extend the lead. Brooke Voss threw a runner out at home for the first out. While the Flames scored their second run on a base hit, Voss limited the damage once again, turning a double play to end the top of the frame.
Evansville’s defense made numerous impressive plays to keep the Flames within striking distance and their persistence paid off as the Purple Aces got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Brooke Voss doubled to left center and advanced to third on the throw. She scored on a sacrifice fly from Abby Bode.
In the bottom of the seventh, UE completed the comeback. Frossard and Taylor Howe both reached on 1-out walks. That brought Willsey to the plate, who forced an error that allowed Frossard to score and tie the game. Alexa Davis reentered the game for Howe and advanced to third on the play before scoring the winning run on a wild pitch.
Sydney Weatherford picked up her third win of the season. She allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits in the 7-inning performance. Miranda Gomez took the loss, allowing three runs, just one earned, in 6 1/3 frames.
UE is back home Wednesday to face USI.
