Game Notes • Live Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With momentum from a 3-0 shutout over Southern Illinois, the University of Evansville softball team will travel to Wichita, Kan., this weekend in hopes of keeping its winning streak alive in a three-game series against Wichita State. Due to the Easter holiday, the two teams will meet in a doubleheader Friday beginning at 2:00 CDT before closing the series with a single game Saturday at noon.
The Aces (10-34) moved into eighth place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 4-13 Valley record after last night’s split against Southern Illinois. This weekend’s matchup will be a head-to-head battle for the seventh place spot, as Wichita State currently sits just one place above the Aces with a conference record of 6-10. A three-game sweep for Evansville would put UE one game ahead of the Shockers and in sole possession of the seven spot.
Senior Jen Stahlhut paces the team and is ranked third in the Valley with a .363 batting average. Stahlhut comes off a 2-for-4 performance last night, notching a triple and a home run against the Salukis. Stahlhut is now tied with junior Amy Gaertner with a team-best four home runs.
Freshman Katie Sears brings a .303 average at the plate after going 4-for-7 against Southern Illinois. The Chicago, Ill. native has recorded just one strikeout in her last 21 at bats.
Leading the Aces on the mound is freshman Taylor Perry, who tossed all seven innings of Wednesday’s shutout while picking up six strikeouts in the process. Owning a 4.51 ERA, Perry now ranks 15th in the MVC with 50 strikeouts on the season.
Scouting the Shockers
Wichita State Shockers (14-30, 6-10 Missouri Valley Conference)
The Shockers come into this weekend after being swept by Missouri State in yesterday’s doubleheader. Prior to the Valley contest, Wichita State posted a 4-2 upset over No. 18 Oklahoma State.
The Shockers’ offense is led by Heather Gerritse, who ranks fifth in the Valley with a .355 batting average. As a team, Wichita State is hitting .256 at the plate with 30 home runs. Sammie Shook has tallied a team-best six homers while Haley Temple and Kiersten Dixon have each hit five.
Three Wichita State pitchers share fairly equal time on the mound, compiling a team ERA of 4.55. Sloan Anderson has pitched most of the innings for the Shockers, recording 77 strikeouts in 111 innings of work.
