Beacons rally to take series finale
UE back home next weekend
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Freshman Eliza Piggott went 3-4 with a 3-run home run, but a 7th inning rally by Valparaiso saw them defeat the University of Evansville softball team by a final of 8-7 on Saturday.
UE scored five runs in the top of the first, but the Beacons chipped away at the lead throughout the game and would finish with the walk-off win. Piggott led the Purple Aces with three of the team’s nine hits. Brooke Voss and Callie Meinel recorded two hits apiece. Meinel had a 2-run home run and three total RBI.
Evansville had a quick start, plating five runs in the top of the first. Keghan Pye hit a 1-out singles with Morgan Adams following with a walk. That brought Eliza Piggott to the plate, who came through with a 3-run home run. Callie Meinel added an RBI double while Miriah Powell scored on a wild pitch to cap the 5-run inning.
Valparaiso broke through with a 4-run bottom of the third to cut the deficit to one. They looked to add more before stranding two runners on base. Following scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, both teams scored twice in the sixth. Powell led off the top of the sixth with a walk to bring Meinel to the plate. Her 2-run shot pushed the lead back to three. The Beacons quickly responded, scoring two runs to get back within a single run heading to the seventh.
Hits by Jess Willsey and Brooke Voss saw the Aces load the bags in the top of the seventh before a strikeout ended the inning. Down to their final three outs, the Beacons rallied once again, scoring two runs to complete the comeback and take the win.
Kate Ridgway made the start, allowing four runs, three earned, in three innings. Gracie Hollingsworth gave up two runs in 2 1/3 inning while two unearned runs scored during the inning tossed by Sydney Weatherford, who was tagged with the loss. Cassidy Gall recorded the final out.
Next weekend, the Aces return home for a 3-game series versus Belmont.
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