UE takes 9-7 win on Saturday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing by a 1-0 score in the bottom of the sixth, Jess Willsey hit a game-tying home run before Lacy Smith walked it off in a 2-1 win by the University of Evansville softball team over Valparaiso at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field and James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
The win gave UE the series sweep over the Beacons. Starting pitcher Sydney Weatherford scattered five hits and an unearned run over the 7-inning contest. Evansville recorded six hits on the day with Lacy Smith picking up three.
It was the Beacons taking the early 1-0 lead with the run crossing the plate on an error. Jess Willsey had a big defensive play at second to end the inning. Brooke Voss picked up Evansville’s first hit of the contest in the bottom of the second while the defense limited further damage in the top of the third.
Alexa Davis made diving catch with a runner on second to end the inning and keep it a 1-0 game. The Purple Aces had two baserunners on in the bottom of the third as a Lacy Smith single was followed later by a walk from Marah Wood. Valpo starter Anna Wilming pitched out of the jam to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Lacy Smith hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth and with two outs, Marah Wood drove a ball deep into center field, however, a nice catch against the wall secured the third out.
Evansville’s tenacity paid off when Jess Willsey put the Aces on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Her 2-out solo home run knotted the game at 1-1. After Weatherford sat down the side in the top of the 7th, UE walked it off in the bottom of the frame. Taylor Howe hit a leadoff double to right with Dori Brown coming in to pinch run. That brough Smith to the plate, who recorded an infield single that scored Brown to give the Aces the win.
Next up for UE is a home non-conference game on Tuesday against SIUE. First pitch is at 5 p.m.
