Freshman Emily Morris and the Aces will fight for a spot in the 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament tomorrow as Evansville takes on the Bears in the final regular-season game of the year.

Missouri State Sweeps In Day One

5/7/2011 4:30:11 PM

Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Evansville softball team suffered a pair of one-run losses in day one of the series against Missouri State. The Bears pulled out a 1-0 win in the bottom of the seventh inning in game one before coming back from behind to claim a 4-3 win in game two.

In other Missouri Valley Conference games, Indiana State lost both games of its doubleheader with Northern Iowa, which knocks the Sycamores out of contention for a bid to the 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament . Bradley dropped both games of its doubleheader against Wichita State. If the Braves pull out a win against the Shockers tomorrow, the Aces would need to win tomorrow’s match in order to receive the bid to the tournament. If Bradley loses Sunday's game, Evansville will advance to the tournament regardless of tomorrow's outcome.

The Aces (12-41) will return to the field tomorrow to take on the Bears in the series finale beginning at noon CDT.

Game 1: UE 0, Missouri State 1
A seventh inning rally and the arm of Natalie Rose is all it took for the Bears to take game one of the series by a score of 1-0. Rose blanked the Aces, tossing a complete no-hitter.

Freshman Emily Morris was tagged with the tough-luck loss in the circle. Morris went the distance for the Aces, scattering just five hits in seven innings of work, two of which led to the Bears’ one-run victory in the bottom of the seventh.

Missouri State’s rally began with a lead off single by Jenna Schwark. Later, a fielder’s choice allowed Schwark to move safely to third base while Savannah Wiggins took her place at first. Morris’ only walk of the game then put Reaven Replogle at first to load the bases. The next batter, Morris forced an infield ground ball and her defense was able to throw out Schwark at home for the second out of the inning. But with bases still loaded, Madison Hargrove came through with a single to left field to bring in the winning run as the game ended with a 1-0 win for the Bears.

Game 2: UE 3, Missouri State 4
The Bears stuck early in the second game, stringing two infield singles together to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

The score remained at 1-0 until the top of the fourth, when senior Jen Stahlhut notched her fifth home run of the season, cranking a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall to tie the score at 1-all.

Evansville took control of the lead in the top of fifth, moving ahead of the Bears 3-1. Sophomore Halie Malone led off the inning with a single to centerfield. Rose retired the next two batters, but sophomore Alicia Betancur was able to reach base on a Missouri State throwing error. Senior Kelci Alsip followed with a walk to load the bases before Stahlhut was able to force another MSU throwing error, allowing Malone and Betancur to cross the plate.

Missouri State quickly responded to Evansville’s rally, as Schwark homered to lead off the bottom of the frame. Trying to break up the Bears’ momentum, head coach Mark Redburn brought Morris into the game in relief of freshman starter Taylor Perry. The Bears’ managed two consecutive singles off Morris before an Evansville error allowed Replogle to reach first while Kerri Cunningham crossed the plate for the Bears to tie the game at 3-3. Morris managed an infield groundout on the next batter, but the hit was deep enough to score the go-ahead run.

The Aces were unable to answer in the top of the seventh, as the Bears went on to win by a final score of 4-3.

Morris (4-11) was charged with the loss on the mound.

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