Game Notes

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Aces softball will take to the road this weekend as they face conference opponent Missouri State for a three-game series in Springfield, Mo. Evansville will be in action against the Bears on Saturday, April 20, in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. CST before wrapping up the weekend on Sunday in a single game contest also starting at 12:00 p.m. CST.
 
UE (17-24) is coming off a 2-0 series win against Southern Illinois on Wednesday in which they defeated the Salukis to improve to 8-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference.  Evansville outscored SIU 12-9 while tallying 14 hits, three doubles, one home run, 10 RBIs, and three stolen bases out of four attempts in the series.
 
The Aces are currently featured within the top five in the MVC when it comes to stolen bases, triples, walks, and sacrifice flies as they moved up in the conference after their doubleheader win against the Salukis.
 
Scouting the Opponent
 
Missouri State University Bears (15-24, 6-8 Missouri Valley Conference)
 
Missouri State enters this series with a 15-24 record, with two wins against conference opponent Indiana State, two wins against Drake, and a win against Illinois State. The Bears were picked to finish sixth in the MVC Preseason poll in which two players earned 2013 MVC Preseason All-Conference honors.
 
Mary Stephens leads the Bears at the hitting position with a .319 batting average out of 116 appearances at bats. While recording five doubles and one home run on the season, Stephens has tallied 11 runs, notched 21 RBIs, and seven walks.
 
Chelsea Jones leads the pitching staff this season with 162.2 innings pitched and a 4.35 ERA. Jones has struck out 64 and has recorded 15 complete games in 35 appearances with two shutouts and one save for the Bears, making her 9-15 on the season.
 
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