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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In its last home series of the season, the University of Evansville softball team will host the Bradley Braves this weekend. Due to weather concerns, the start times for the weekend have changed. The two teams will now open the three-game series with an 8:00 CDT night game on Friday before concluding the weekend with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1:00 CDT.
Saturday will be “Senior Day” for the Aces, as UE will celebrate the careers of seniors Kelci Alsip and Jen Stahlhut. The weekend will also serve as “Alumni Weekend” for the UE softball and baseball programs.
This weekend could prove critical in determining the Aces’ post-season fate. With only the top eight teams advancing to the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, Evansville (11-37) is currently sitting in eighth place with a Valley record of 5-16. Just two games behind the Aces, Bradley (10-37) anchors the tenth place spot in the rankings with a 3-16 conference record.
The Aces enter this weekend looking to rebound from Tuesday’s loss against Southern Illinois. UE dropped the series finale as SIU posted a 9-1 victory behind the no-hit performance of Saluki pitcher Megan Glosson.
Stahlhut remains as the leading hitter on the UE squad, taking a .336 batting average into this weekend’s series. As a team, Evansville is hitting .236 with 15 home runs on the year.
Scouting the Braves:
Bradley Braves (10-37, 3-16 Missouri Valley Conference)
Bradley enters this weekend riding a two-game losing streak after dropping a pair of midweek games to Northern Iowa. Prior to the losses, the Braves pulled out a two-game sweep over Indiana State last weekend. Bradley’s only other conference win was a 9-4 victory over Creighton back on April 3.
Julie Sherman leads the Braves’ offense, ranking ninth in the Valley with a .340 average at the plate. As a team, Bradley is hitting .248 with 18 home runs. Katie Singler paces the team and is tied for 11th in the MVC with eight homers on the year. Bradley ranks third in the conference with 54 stolen bases, led by Brittany Fairbairn, who has swiped 12 bases in 14 attempts.
The Bradley pitching staff owns a 4.68 ERA. Lindsay Hufeld has seen the most time in the circle, picking up a team-high 68 strikeouts in 111 innings of work. Mackenzie Camp and Madeline Lynch-Crumrine will most likely also see time on the rubber this weekend.
