Parr sets program home run mark as Aces earn sweep

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Evansville defeats Drake, 13-5 on Sunday 

DES MOINES, Iowa – Senior Chandra Parr set the University of Evansville program record with the 31st home run of her career as the Purple Aces softball team finished off a weekend sweep at Drake with a 13-5 victory on Sunday morning.

“I am so proud of our hitting this series, the ladies have been working really hard on some adjustments and it is paying off,” head coach Mat Mundell said.  “I also want to congratulate Chandra on breaking the school’s all-time home run record!”

Evansville (16-20, 7-5 MVC) scored its 13 runs on 17 hits while Drake (19-19, 3-9 MVC) was credited with 13 hits.

Brittany Hay led everyone with four hits on the day and also tied for the game-high with three runs scored.   Hayli Scott also crossed the plate on three occasions.  Morgan Florey made the start for UE, going five innings while giving up four runs, three earned, on nine hits.  Ashleigh Downing threw the final two frames to finish off the win.

The Aces wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Hay started things off with a double before scoring on a Florey groundout.  The next three runs belonged to the Bulldogs as they plated one in the first and two in the second on a Sarah Maddox home run.

 

UE fought back with the tying runs in the third.  Another hit by Hay got things going before she scored on a Scott double.  Later, Morgan Lambert brought home Ashlee Kawall on a single to center.

 

History was made for UE one inning later.  With the score knotted up at 3-3, Chandra Parr led the fourth off with a solo home run to center, setting the all-time program record with 31.  It also proved to be the difference as the Aces never looked back.  In the fifth, Parr and Michal Luckett each had RBI doubles before Morgan Florey connected on her third home run of the weekend, a 3-run shot, as the Aces took a 10-4 lead.  Luckett also had an RBI knock in the inning.

 

Drake added single runs in the 5th and 6th innings, but Evansville was just too much as they plated three more in the seventh.  Two came in on a Lambert double while the scoring wrapped up for the day on a Downing single.

 

On Tuesday, another midweek doubleheader is on tap as the Aces welcome UT Martin to Cooper Stadium.  Game one is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch with game two to follow.