Aces and Salukis to play two games

With inclement weather in the forecast for Wednesday, the University of Evansville will head to Carbondale, Ill. to take on Southern Illinois in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon in games set for 3 and 5 p.m.

After going nearly three years between conference series victories, the Purple Aces have made it 2-for-2 in the last two weekends, earning series triumphs over Wichita State and, most recently, Illinois State.  In the 4-2 streak for UE, Morgan Florey has made the difference, picking up three of those wins in the circle along with a save in the other contest.  UE is hoping to match a streak in 2013 that saw the squad pick up four-consecutive series wins.

Evansville showed just how much firepower it had at Illinois State over the weekend, notching seven home runs in the 3-game set, including four in the series finale, which gave the Aces their second MVC series win in a row.  Sunday’s final tally of four homers was the first time UE racked up that many in a league game since recording four against Creighton on May 8, 2010.  The Aces recorded four home runs on two occasions last season, both non-conference games.

Freshman Morgan Florey had another memorable weekend as UE took two out of three from Illinois State.  In the two victories, Florey pitched a complete game and now stands with 11 victories on the season.  At the plate, the frosh hit .429 with three home runs, seven RBI, four walks and a slugging % of 1.714.  Chandra Parr was also strong in the trip to Normal as she hit .600, going 6/10 with two home runs and five runs scored.

Southern Illinois enters the doubleheader with a 25-14 mark and 8-6 in conference play after dropping two out of three to Indiana State.  Prior to that, the Salukis took the final two games of a road series at Missouri State.

Shaye Harre is the top hitter for SIU, entering the series with a .340 average.  Her 36 hits, 28 runs, 9 home runs and 31 RBI are all team highs.  Sydney Jones checks in with a .304 average for the Salukis.  Both have started all 39 games.

This weekend, the Purple Aces are at Indiana State for three games before returning to Evansville for its final four home contests of the season.

Junior shot 5-under 67 on Monday

 CHICAGO – University of Evansville junior Kayla Katterhenry put forth one of the top efforts in Missouri Valley Conference Championship history, carding a 5-under 67 as she moved into a tie for the lead in the second round of the tournament at Harborside International Golf Center (Port Course) on Monday.

Katterhenry’s score tied the MVC Championship record, which was set by Southern Illinois player Alisha Matthews in 2012.  The 67 is also a new Purple Aces record.  It is one better than Crissy Higgins’ round of 68, which she accomplished in 2008.  Prior to today, Katterhenry’s lowest score was a 69 in 2014.

With the round, the Newburgh product moved into a tie for the championship lead.  She joins Wichita State’s Taryn Torgeson and Bradley’s Ally Scaccia with scores of 143 going into the final day.  All three are one under par going into the final round of 18.

Freshman Maria Pickens continued to play at her best, matching the top score of her collegiate career as she finished Monday’s round with a 74.  She stands in a tie for 10^th with a 150.  Pickens notched a hole-in-one on the 13^th hole in Sunday’s opening round.

Third on the team was Maggie Camp.  She recorded a 79 on Monday to stand with a 157 going into the final round of 18.  Camp is tied for 32^nd.  Madison Chaney enters the final day with a 168 while Giulia Mallmann checks in at a 171.  Chaney and Mallmann are in 47^th and 48^th spots, respectively.

Evansville sits in a tie for 8^th place with Illinois State.  Both schools have a 618. Missouri State is one ahead of the pair with a 617 while UNI is 6^th with a 614.  Wichita State enters the final round with a 7 stroke lead over Indiana State.  The Shockers stand with a 586.

Tuesday’s final round of 18 is set to begin at 8:30 a.m.

Florey hit three home runs at Illinois State

 ST. LOUIS – Another stellar week of Missouri Valley Conference action has seen University of Evansville freshman Morgan Florey earn her third MVC Newcomer of the Week award on Monday.

Florey had a memorable week for the Purple Aces both in the circle and at the plate.  Florey finished the week batting .429 with three hits in seven at-bats.  All three hits were home runs as she finished with 7 RBI and a slugging % of 1.714.  She also drew four walks while getting on base 63.6% of the time and scored four runs.

On the pitching side, Florey picked up two wins, going the distance in the Aces’ wins over Illinois State and stands at 11 wins on the season.  She finished with a 3.82 ERA in 14.2 innings of work.  She struck out 13 batters and walked just two.  Florey opened up the weekend series on Saturday, going 2-3 with five runs batted in and two home runs.  Throwing all seven innings, she gave up three earned runs while striking out six.

She was back at it once again on Sunday, throwing another complete game victory while going 1-1 at the plate with her third homer of the weekend.  She drove in two runs, scored twice and walked three times.

Tomorrow, Florey and the Aces are in action at Southern Illinois in a conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.