EVANSVILLE, Ind.—With 12 strikeouts and six hits between University of Evansville’s Kendall Kautz and Southern Illinois’ Danielle Glosson, the Aces (8-14, 3-5) used two long balls to propel a 2-1 win over SIU (21-12, 6-1) and avoid a Missouri Valley Conference sweep at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium on Wednesday.
“It all started with pitching and being able to get ahead and use the change-up to keep batters off-balance,” said Evansville head coach Mark Redburn. “Our defense also did well. The outfielders were able to get a good break on the balls, and the infield played well on SIU’s short game. Then two timely home runs, and you have to take those because sometimes in games you aren’t going to get many hits, so you take runs where you can get them.”
Freshman Kautz (7-4) threw her sixth complete game after allowing four hits and one walk while striking out four. Junior Glossen (11-8) took her first loss in conference play, as she struck out eight and only gave up the home runs as hits. Between the two pitchers was five innings of three-straight outs, as Kautz recorded three and Glossen two.
After four scoreless innings, sophomore Amy Gaertner put the first run on the board with a home run to left field in the first at-bat of the fifth inning. SIU got its offense started in the sixth inning with sophomore Haley Gorman walking and sophomore Mallory Duran earning a bunt single to advance Gorman to second. A sacrifice bunt from senior Alicia Garza moved the two baserunners before the bases loaded with senior Katie Wilson reaching on a fielder’s choice. After Chelsea Held flied out to left field, the Aces tried to get Duran out on her way back to second causing Gorman to score on the throw and tie it at 1-1.
The Aces answered back in the bottom sixth, as senior Krista Price posted her fourth home run in three games with one over center field to end the scoring at 2-1.
UE continues conference play Easter weekend against Indiana State at Cooper Stadium, as the teams play Friday with a noon doubleheader and Saturday at noon.
