Game Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville will open the 2011 Missouri Valley Conference season with a three-game home stand against the Creighton Bluejays. The Aces will host a doubleheader Saturday before wrapping up the series with a single game Sunday. Both days are scheduled to begin at noon.
Freshman Katie Sears leads the Aces’ offense, hitting .362 on the season with a team-high 21 hits. Sears went 4-for-5 at the plate including a game-winning walk-off single to give the Aces the victory in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader against UT-Martin. As a team, the Aces carry a .254 batting average into the Valley’s opening weekend.
In the circle, freshman Taylor Perry owns a team-best ERA of 4.29. Perry scattered seven hits in 4.1 innings pitched in her first start of the season Thursday against the Skyhawks. Junior Maggie Little now leads the Aces’ in wins, posting a 2-4 record on the mound with eight strikeouts this season.
Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton brings a young team with a 9-12 record into this weekend. Losing two-thirds of last year’s starting lineup, the defending Missouri Valley Conference Champions have brought in 11 newcomers to fill out the 2011 roster. Freshman Malloree Grove leads the Bluejays offensively, posting a .320 batting average in 50 at bats this season. Sophomore Amy Baker is stepping up as Creighton’s leading slugger, tallying seven home runs and 14 RBI this season. Baker was named MVC Player of the Week this week after blasting five home runs in the Creighton’s last two games to move into the lead for total home runs in the Valley.
As a team, Creighton is hitting .253 at the plate with 16 home runs. The Bluejays boast the second-best fielding percentage in the Valley, collecting just 18 team errors.
On the mound, Creighton is riding the arm of freshman Becca Changstrom, who has thrown over half of the Bluejays innings this season. Changstrom holds a 1.71 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 69.2 innings of work so far. Junior Kylie Hovinga owns the second-best ERA on the team at 3.65 in 23.0 innings pitched.
