UE drops opener before finishing with 7-3 win in second game
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A 7-run fourth inning helped the University of Evansville softball team earn a 7-3 win to clinch a doubleheader split against Loyola in Saturday’s conference opener.
Eryn Gould hit a grand slam while Haley Woolf added a 2-run home run to lift the Purple Aces (12-7, 1-1 MVC) to a 7-3 win in the second contest of the day after Loyola (5-12, 1-1 MVC) took game one by a 1-0 final.
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Game 1
Following three scoreless innings, Amelia Thomas got Loyola on the board with a solo home run in the top of the fourth. Evansville stranded two runners in the third and fifth innings, but was ready to make a final push in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitting in her first at-bat of the season, Alyssa Barela laced a single to center before being pinch run for by Mackenzie McFeron. UE picked up two walks to load the bases, but a strikeout by Loyola starter Sydney Ruggles ended the game.
Barela had one of the Aces three hits in the contest. Izzy Vetter went the distance, allowing one run on three hits while striking out eight batters. Eryn Gould reached via three walks as Evansville posted eight in the game.
Game 2
After earning three walks in game one, Eryn Gould led the second contest off in the same fashion before reaching second on a wild pitch. Marah Wood singled to shallow left, allowing Gould to reach third with one out, but UE was unable to get on the board. Loyola was poised to take advantage in the top of the second, advancing runners to second and third with just one out. That is when the Evansville defense shined. On a groundout to shortstop, the Ramblers brought their runner home where Haley Woolf threw her out at home. Catcher Jenna Lis defended the plate to preserve the run.
Just as they did in game one, Loyola scored first in the fourth inning, belting a home run to left field at almost the exact same spot as the one in the opener. This one came off the bat of Sydney Barnett, which gave LUC a 1-0 lead. Evansville did not waste any time countering in the bottom half of the frame. After a hit by Marah Wood led the inning off, Haley Woolf hit a home run to left center to put UE in front, 2-1.
The runs kept coming for UE. Lindsay Renneisen had an RBI single before the Aces loaded the bags for Gould. The senior sent the first pitch she faced over the right field fence for a grand slam that put the Aces up by a 7-1 score. Loyola cut the deficit to four with a pair of runs in the sixth. That is where the scoring would finish as the Aces clinched a 7-3 win.
UE had 10 hits in the second game with Gould, McLean, Wood and Lis recording two apiece. Jaime Nurrenbern won her fifth game of the season, going six innings while allowing three runs on seven hits. Gould led all players with four RBI with her grand slam.
