Weatherford and Brenton shut down Salukis to win series

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Sydney Weatherford and Megan Brenton combined to earn a 2-0 shut out victory over Southern Illinois at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium on Sunday.

Weatherford picked up her fourth win of the season with five innings of work.  She allowed seven hits and struck out a pair.  Brenton threw the final two innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two.  Neither pitcher gave up a walk.

The tone was set for a pitcher’s duel in the early going as Sydney Weatherford retired the Salukis in order to begin the game.  Taylor Howe picked up a hit in the first while Alexa Davis added one in the second.  Davis also got the job done on the defensive side, making a diving catch in center field to prevent a sure double.

In the bottom of the fourth, the scoreless tie was broken when the Purple Aces plated two runs.  Jess Willsey, Davis and Karlee Frobeter all walked to load the bases with one out.  Willsey scored on a wild pitch before Hannah Hood hit a bloop single into left to make it a 2-0 game.

Highlighted by a pair of defensive gems from Zoe Frossard, the Salukis were held scoreless in the top of the fifth.  Her diving catch in right field prevented a base hit to record the first out while an even better play cemented the second out.  With a runner on first, the Salukis picked up a base hit, which Frossard grabbed and threw out the runner a third.

Brenton entered in the top of the sixth and took care of business, allowing just one hit to secure the shut out victory.  UE recorded three hits on the day while the Salukis had eight.  Elizabeth Warwick and Emma Austin registered two hits apiece.

For the second week in a row, the Aces will travel to Terre Haute as they will face the Sycamores on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT.