UE Back Home For The Senior weekend against Valparaiso

Indiana State plated three runs in the first inning and held on from there, earning a 3-2 victory over the University of Evansville softball team on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sycamores (16-29, 4-16 MVC) got off to the quick start, erupting for their three runs in the opening frame.  Brooke Mann provided the big hit for the Sycamores, lacing a 2-RBI single through the left side to cap off the inning.

Evansville (16-26, 6-13 MVC) scored its first run in the top of the third with sophomore Toni Galas doing it all.  She reached on a bunt single before stealing second.  Lindsay Renneisen reached on an error that allowed Galas to score from second.

In the fifth, UE added another run when a single from Allison Daggett scored Eryn Gould, who led the frame off with a walk.  The Aces continued to threaten in the final two innings, drawing two walks in the sixth before Haley Woolf recorded her second hit of the game in the seventh, but the Sycamores were able to get out of the jams to take the win.

UE finished the day with seven hits with Woolf tallying three.  Emily Lockhart made the start, giving up three runs in two innings.  Izzy Vetter tossed the final four innings, allowing just three hits.  Gabbi Schnaiter took the win for ISU, allowing two runs, one earned, in 5 1/3 innings of work.  Arielle Blankenship picked up the save.

This weekend, the Aces complete their home slate with a 3-game series against Valparaiso.  A Saturday doubleheader at noon gets things started before Sunday’s finale begins at 11 a.m.  Seven UE seniors will be honored prior to Saturday’s contest with festivities beginning at 11 a.m.

The University of Evansville baseball team had several opportunities, but couldn’t close the gap, as they fell to Tennessee-Martin 8-4 in a non-conference matchup at Skyhawks Baseball Field. Wednesday night.

UT-Martin got the jump on the Aces early, building a 2-0 lead on UE starter Alex Weigand. However, UE would answer back in the third inning, as junior center fielder Troy Beilsmith came up with a clutch two-out RBI double down the left field line, scoring senior third baseman Sam Troyer, halving the Skyhawk lead to 2-1.

Weigand, who gave up two runs on five hits, would give way to junior reliever David Ellis in the fourth inning, and UT-Martin would get that run back in the bottom of the fourth, then in the fifth the Skyhawks hung four more tallies on the scoreboard, putting Evansville in a 7-1 hole.

The Aces would start to rally from there. In the top of the sixth, Sam Troyer parlayed being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Troyer followed that up by stealing third, then scored on senior designated hitter Nate Reeder groundout to second, cutting the deficit to five.

In the seventh, senior left fielder Matthew Jones drilled a double to left, bringing in sophomore first baseman Tanner Craig from second, getting the Aces back within four at 7-3.

Finally, in the eighth UE seemed poised to catch the Skyhawks, loading up the bases with two outs. Nate Reeder drew a walk, forcing in A.J. Fritz, and the Aces were back within striking distance at 7-4. However, Evansville’s rally would end there. UT-Martin would get one run back in the bottom of the frame.

Down 8-4 in their final at-bat, the Aces would put runners on the corners with two outs, but UE couldn’t take advantage.

The loss drops the Aces record to 19-18, while the Skyhawks improve to 16-24.

Evansville is back in action on Friday afternoon, when they open a Missouri Valley Conference road series with Valparaiso. First pitch is at 3 p.m. Central Time.