Rubber match set for Saturday at 11 a.m.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Pitching was the name of the game on Friday as the University of Evansville and Missouri State softball squads split a doubleheader at Killian Stadium.

Missouri State (21-14, 9-5 MVC) earned the win in game one by a 2-1 final before the Purple Aces (17-23, 8-6 MVC) took the second contest by a final of 3-1.

“The ladies did their job on the road to get the split in day one,” UE head coach Mat Mundell said.  “They have given themselves a chance to win the series tomorrow.  We beat ourselves in game one, so that was our focus for the second game.”

In the bottom half of the first in game one, the Bears opened up the day’s scoring as the first run of the day came across on a wild pitch.  Evansville notched just two hits through the opening four frames before seeing two reach base in the top of the fifth.  MSU starter Kaitlin Beason was able to get out of the jam and keep the score at 1-0.

MSU added an insurance run in the sixth when Madison Jones scored on a Beason fielder’s choice.  Michal Luckett singled to start the seventh and would later score on a base knock from Chandra Parr.  Parr was thrown out at third on the play.  Following a single by Bailee Bostic, Tess Hupe had a 12-pitch at-bat, but lined out for the second out before MSU held on for the 2-1 triumph.

The Aces finished with a 6-5 edge in hits in the contest.  Starting pitcher Morgan Florey was in the circle for the duration, allowing two earned runs while striking out five.  Parr was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game.

After being held to one run in the opening match-up, UE got off to a fast start in the second game, plating three runs in the first inning.  Hayli Scott, Chandra Parr and Ashleigh Downing each had RBI’s in the frame.

Following the quick start by the offense, Ashleigh Downing took care of business in the circle.  The sophomore did not allow a hit until the bottom of the fifth inning.  Missouri State pushed their lone run of the game across the plate in that inning before Downing finished off the job to earn her third win of the season.  She tossed all seven innings and allowed the one run on four hits while fanning three batters.

UE outhit the Bears, 6-4, in the game.  Parr had two more hits in the contest and went 5-6 in the doubleheader.

A single game completes the series on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Indiana University divers Michael Hixon and Jessica Parratto each qualified with their synchro partners for the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary on July 14-22 at the 2017 USA Diving Synchronized National Championships in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Hixon and his synchro partner, Sam Dorman, dominated the men’s 3-meter field with 809.31 points, including a score of 86.70 on an inward 3½ somersault tuck. The pair scored 79.00 or more points on three of their dives.

By winning on Wednesday, the duo will represent Team USA in the 3-meter synchro event at the World Championships. The duo won silver together on 3-meter at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Hixon will also dive individually in the 1-meter event for Team USA.

Parratto and her synchro partner, Tarrin Gilliland, won the women’s 10-meter, earning their place at the World Championships for Team USA in July. Parratto and Gilliland won a talent-loaded women’s 10-meter final, posting a score of 609.06. The meet marked the first time Parratto and Gilliland have competed together as partners.

Last summer, Parratto and synchro partner Amy Cozad represented Team USA in the Rio Olympics, placing seventh overall in the 10-meter synchro.

University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer will take on the University of Evansville in the annual Mayor’s Cup April 19 at 6 p.m. at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

The event is designed to PURSUE excellence both on and off the field as well as to bring FUSION to the community through a partnership with the YMCA. Throughout the spring, youth soccer clinics were organized and run by both universities’ soccer programs and their student-athletes.

Tickets for the event are $5 and available through the YMCA, Evansville ticket office, or at the gate. All proceeds will benefit after school soccer programs and the YMCA. Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will be in attendance for pregame ceremonies, while YMCA youth soccer clinic participants will compete on the field at halftime.