EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jenna Nink hit solo home runs in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader as the University of Evansville softball team clinched the series with a victory over Belmont in the finale. The Bruins opened the day with a 6-5 win before the Purple Aces responded with a 3-1 triumph in the second game
Game 1 – Belmont 6, UE 5
With the game tied at 5-5 heading into the 7th, a solo home run by Belmont gave them a 6-5 victory over the Purple Aces in the day’s first contest.
Evansville struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first. Alexa Davis singled and stole second before Sydney Kalonihea and Zoe Frossard drew walks to load the bases. Taylor Howe singled to center field to put the Aces up 2-0.
After allowing just one hit over the first three innings, UE starter Mikayla Jolly ran into trouble in the fourth as the Bruins tagged her for two hits and two walks. Erin Kleffman took over in the circle, but the Bruins would score five times to take the lead.
Jenna Nink cut into the deficit as she sent the first pitch of the fifth over the wall in left center. After Karlee Frobeter reached on a single, Marah Wood hit a home run to deep right field to tie the game at 5-5. Belmont responded in the top of the seventh when Emily Cockrill hit a solo home run that hit the left field foul pole to put them back in front.
Nink and Davis each recorded a hit in the bottom of the 7th but a close play at the plate ended the game and gave the Bruins the win. UE had seven hits in the game with Davis and Nink recording two apiece. Jolly threw the first 3 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs. Erin Kleffman tossed 3 1/3 frames with two runs, one earned, crossing the plate. She suffered the loss. Megan Brenton recorded the final out in the top of the 7th.
Game 2 – UE 3, Belmont 1
Jess Willsey hit a 1-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, which proved to be the game winner in game three of the series against the Bruins.
Belmont quickly took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first in game two before Evansville matched it with Jenna Nink’s second solo home run of the doubleheader in the bottom of the third.
Zoe Frossard hit a leadoff double in the fourth while advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Howe. Jess Willsey followed with a single to shallow right field to bring in Frossard and give UE its first lead of the contest.
Evansville scored for the third consecutive inning when Alexa Davis crossed the plate to extend the advantage to 3-1. Davis hit a 2-out double before Sydney Kalonihea reached on an error. Heads up base running by Davis made the difference in securing the important insurance run.
With the Aces continuing to hold the 2-run lead in the top of the 7th, Davis contributed on the defensive side. Her diving catch for the first out of the inning set the tone for a 1-2-3 inning as the Aces finished off the win.
Sydney Weatherford was credited with the win. In four innings of work, she allowed one run on five hits. Megan Brenton earned her third save of the season, giving up just one hit in three scoreless innings. Five different UE players had hits in the game.
