EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Evansville softball team keeps adding to its win column, as the Aces (10-14, 5-5 MVC) took two Missouri Valley Conference victories over Indiana State (11-17, 0-7 MVC) by scores of 4-3 and 8-2 on Friday at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
“I’m excited about the wins because we turned a new leaf and came out of game one with a desire and aggression for runs in game two,” said Evansville head coach Mark Redburn. “Our pitchers did great, and Jen McKee did a great job. We had key hits for big runs, especially with Krista Price’s grand slam. I’m happy with the way we transitioned into game two, as we weren’t satisfied with game one, and we were able to get some runs and sweep the day.”
Evansville 4, Indiana State 3
Jamie Lindauer got things started for the day in the second inning, as she got on base after a Sycamore error. After stealing second, Lindauer advanced to third with an Alicia Betancur single and eventually scored after an error on the play trying to catch Betancur stealing second. INS came back in the fifth with two runs. Kim Pierce singled before Stephanie Jonson doubled leading Pierce to score and Jonson advancing to third on the throw. A sacrifice fly from Lindsey Beisser brought Jonson home.
Price walked to start the sixth inning for UE before a sacrifice bunt from Amy Gaertner moved Price up a base. With Price on third from an Allison Aguilera groundout, Lindauer singled to right to score Price. Ashleigh Rahming then hit a home run over center field to make the score 4-2. The Sycamores moved to survival mode in the seventh, as a Pierce home run toward left made the score 4-3, but INS couldn’t make any more progress to end the game.
Kendall Kautz (8-4) pitched most of the game for the Aces, as she gave up five hits and struck out five before Jen McKee (1-5) came in for the save. INS’ Meagan McCurdy (5-10) took the loss after she struck out six and allowed four hits with three earned runs.
Evansville 8, Indiana State 2
INS started early in the second game with one run in the first inning. Pierce reached on an Aces’ mistake before Bailey Wittenauer walked. A double from Jonson would then score Pierce. UE tied the score in the bottom of the third inning. Lindauer hit a bunt single before advancing to second on a Jen Stahlhut groundout. Price advanced Lindauer with a single to left before she stole second. Gaertner’s sacrifice fly brought Lindauer around to home.
The Aces continued in the fourth, as Kelci Alsip singled to short before going to third on a Halie Malone double to left center. A walk from Tamara Robey loaded the bases so that Stahlhut’s walk brought in Alsip. Price then hit a grand slam over the left field wall to make the score 6-1. UE earned another two runs in the fifth after Alsip walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With Malone on first after a walk, Robey hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Lindauer’s single to right then brought in UE’s final runs.
Down 8-1, the Sycamores looked to get a comeback started in the sixth with Stephanie Robinson singling to center. Lindsey Beisser reached on a fielder’s choice before advancing on an Alex Lucas walk. A single from Kellie Szablewski to left center would bring in the visitor’s last run.
McKee earned her first win of the season after giving up five hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Sara Evans (1-3) worked most of the game for INS, as she saw five hits, four strikeouts and three runs. Price and Lindauer ended the game with each going 3-for-4 at the plate with multiple RBI.
The Aces and Sycamores close out the series on Saturday at noon at Cooper Stadium.
