Game Notes

The University of Evansville softball team looks to snap a four-game losing streak with a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Murray State Wednesday at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 CDT.

The Aces (6-21, 1-5) are coming off three losses to Northern Iowa in last weekend’s Missouri Valley Conference series. Prior to the Valley matchup, the Aces split with Southeast Missouri State in a midweek doubleheader, posting a 4-2 extra-inning win before dropping the nightcap 9-0.

Senior Jen Stahlhut turned in a .466 batting average over the Aces’ five games last week. The senior outfielder recorded at least one hit in four of her five appearances, tallying seven total hits and two runs batted in. Stahlhut led the Aces with a 3-for-4 performance in Wednesday’s win at SEMO, posting a single and a pair of doubles in her third three-hit game this season. Ranked 12th in the Valley, Stahlhut now owns a team-high .333 season batting average.

Evansville is currently ranked number one in the MVC with 11 double plays turned this season. Sophomore Alicia Betancur and junior Amy Gaertner rank first and second, respectively, for fielding double plays. Betancur leads the conference with nine double plays fielded while Gaertner has turned seven so far this season.

In the circle, freshman Taylor Perry tossed a season-high six strikeouts in her first complete-game appearance on Sunday against Northern Iowa. On the season, Perry has fanned a total of 23 batters and is averaging a team-best 4.60 strikeouts per game.

Scouting the Racers
Murray State Racers (6-17, 2-8 Ohio Valley)
In its second season as a program, Murray State carries a 6-17 overall record into Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Aces. The two teams met three times last season, with Evansville leading the all-time series 2-1.

Offensively, Murray State is hitting .232 at the plate with 20 team home runs so far this season. Lauren Buch is the offensive charge of the Racer lineup, leading the team in almost every offensive category. Buch owns a .446 batting average with six doubles, eight home runs and 21 runs batted in. The Racers are also led by Megan Glosser and Jenna Bradley. Glosser is batting .304 at the plate and is 9-for-10 in stolen bases. Bradley is hitting .242 and ranks second on the team with seven home runs and 16 RBI.

The Racers’ pitching staff owns a 6.15 earned run average with Chelsey Sullivan and Shelby Kosmecki sharing a majority of the innings in the circle. Sullivan leads the five-member staff with a 5.01 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 57.1 innings of work while Kosmecki is close behind with a 5.49 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 51.0 innings.