UE drops games to Miami Ohio and Kent State
ELON, N.C. – Opening the 2024 season, the University of Evansville softball team faced Miami Ohio and Kent State at the Elon Softball Classic.
Game 1 – Miami Ohio 12, UE 0
Belting three home runs in the first two innings, Miami Ohio pulled away to take a 12-0 victory in Friday’s season opener.
Miami jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first with back-to-back solo shots. In Evansville’s half of the first, Zoe Frossard drew a 1-out walk but was stranded at first as the game headed into the second. The RedHawks wasted little time in adding to their lead as Jenna Golembiewski sent the first pitch she saw out of the park to make it a 3-0 game. The RedHawks tacked on two more runs to extend the lead to 5-0.
Evansville had its first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with two outs. Hannah Hood and Taylor Howe reached on walks while Brooke McCorkle reached on an error. A foul out ended the threat. UE had another opportunity in the bottom of the sixth when Marah Wood drew a 1-out walk before Jess Willsey followed with a single. Unfortunately, a strikeout and foul out kept the Aces off the board.
In the seventh, Miami broke through with seven runs to put the game out of reach. Maddi Banks led MU with three RBI as the RedHawks erupted for 10 hits. Addy Jarvis earned the win, tossing a complete game, 2-hit shutout. Gracie Hollingsworth made the start, allowing three runs on five hits in 1 1/3 frames. Elle Jarrett threw the final 5 2/3 innings of relief; the first 4 2/3 frames saw her hold MU scoreless. In the seventh, Miami scored seven runs, however, none of those were earned.
Game 2 – Kent State 10, UE 1
Scoring five runs in the second and five more in the sixth, Kent State took a 10-1 win in Friday’s second game. Evansville broke through in the bottom of the first with Alexa Davis doing a perfect job on the basepaths. After reaching on a leadoff walk, Davis stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Zoe Frossard, and crossed the plate when Marah Wood singled to center.
The Golden Flashes countered with a 5-run second that saw Julia Mazanec hit a 3-run home run to get KSU on the board. Savannah Wing added a 2-run single to cap the inning.
UE had a few chances in the middle innings. Brooke Voss reached on a single in the second while Jenna Nink and Frossard walks in the fourth. Keghan Pye reached base on a bunt single in the 5th, but the Aces could not push any of those runs across the plate. Kent State put the finishing touch on the game with a 5-run sixth as they finished with the 10-1 victory.
Four different players recorded the hits for UE while Kent State erupted for 10 hits, three coming off the bat of Alexandria Whitmore. Macy Irelan three four innings to earn the win for KSU. She gave up one run on four hits. Mikayla Jolly went five innings and allowed five runs, three earned. Megan Brenton threw in the sixth innings and saw five runs score, four of those being earned.
On Saturday, UE opens with a rematch against Kent State at 8:30 a.m. CT before facing Elon at 11 a.m. CT.
