Aces play Oklahoma State on Tuesday
STILLWATER, Okla. – Looking to build on the momentum it gained from a walk-off win over Northwestern State, the University of Evansville softball team remains in the state of Oklahoma as they take on another Big 12 squad – Oklahoma State – on Tuesday.
UE will take on OSU in Stillwater at 5:30 p.m. Live video and stat links are above.
Evansville wrapped up the Courtyard Marriott Tournament over the weekend, which was hosted by #9 Oklahoma. The Aces faced off twice against the Sooners and scored seven of the eight runs allowed by the team. On Friday, the Purple Aces took a 3-0 lead over the sooners on a pair of home runs before using the long ball to rally on Saturday.
Trailing Oklahoma by a score of 5-2 heading to the top of the seventh, the Aces made it interesting as Hayli Scott launched a 2-run home run with two outs as UE would eventually fall by a 5-4 score. Things finally went UE’s way in Sunday’s finale against Northwestern State. After the Demons made a furious rally to tie the game at 7-7 in the top of the seventh, junior Brittany Hay made quick work in the bottom of the frame, hitting a walk-off solo shot to post the win.
Scott batted .625 with 5 hits in 8 trips to the plate over the weekend. She had a home run and 5 RBI on the weekend and got it started with a pinch hit RBI on Friday versus WKU. Saturday against Northwestern State, she had another big pinch hit, knocking in 2 runs. The Saturday finale saw her come through late with another pinch hit – a 2-run homer as UE rallied against Oklahoma. Scott went 2-3 on Sunday versus NSU.
Hay hit .364 with two home runs at the OU tournament and had 4 hits in 11 at-bats. She recorded a hit on Friday against the #9 Sooners before hitting a pinch hit homer on Saturday versus Northwestern State. She finished off the weekend in style against NSU going 2-3 with a walk-off solo home run to lead the inning off and clinch the win.
In the circle, Samantha Fleming tossed 5.1 scoreless innings of relief for UE in the tournament. She gave up just one hit and struck out three batters. On Saturday versus Northwestern State, she went four scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and allowing a hit. Saturday’s finale against the Sooners saw her throw 2/3 of an inning, striking out one. Fleming picked up the win on Sunday as she shut down NSU while grabbing two outs before UE walked it off.
The ladies are set to face Oklahoma State, who stands at 12-9. OSU is coming off of a 4-1 weekend with wins over Abilene Christian, UNI and Tennessee Tech. In the weekend finale, they dropped an 11-5 decision to the Panthers. Vanessa Shippy is the offensive leader for OSU, batting .417 in their first 21 games. Taylor Lunch checks in at .388 while Rylee Bayless is third on the squad at .352.
