The University of Evansville softball team brought down Southern Illinois when they held a perfect Missouri Valley Conference record on March 31. The Aces look to do it again as they travel to Illinois State for a three-game series this weekend. The teams square off Saturday with a noon doubleheader and again on Sunday with the last game beginning at noon.

UE enters the weekend at 11-18, 5-6 MVC after going 1-3 in midweek matchups against Austin Peay and Western Kentucky.

At Austin Peay, UE was able to find 10 hits in the first game, but fell short in the run game. Junior Jen Stahlhut went 2-for-2 with two runs and a RBI while freshman Alicia Betancur also posted two hits with two runs. Senior Jamie Lindauer and sophomore Amy Gaertner also recorded two hits.

Success found the Aces in game two versus WKU on Thursday, as senior Jen McKee allowed five hits, one run and one walk while striking out four. Junior Kelci Alsip went 2-for-3 while senior Krista Price and Stahlhut found their way across home plate with two RBI from Betancur.

The Redbirds (19-10, 7-0 MVC) head into the contest as winners of nine straight with conference sweeps over Wichita State, Northern Iowa and Indiana State. ILS has had five players named MVC Player of the Week, including three-time and current winner Abby Olson. Olson is hitting .430 this season right behind Kara Nelson’s .438, and Olson’s team-high 14 home runs has helped her to 38 RBI. Nelson currently holds 30 runs and 46 hits for the Redbirds.

In the pitching circle, Megan Warner and Jordan Birch have taken a majority of the appearances, but Warner leads the team with a 2.86 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Birch is not far behind with 59 strikeouts, as she holds a 5.18 ERA with 73 hits and 53 runs allowed.