EVANSVILLE, IN – The University of Evansville softball team will head to Southaven, Miss. to participate in the Blues City Classic this weekend from Feb.21 – Feb.23.
 
The Purple Aces (2-2) will compete against Murray State, Lipscomb, Morehead State, Alabama A&M and Appalachian State with the Aces' first game being Friday, Feb. 21 at 2:30 p.m. against Murray State.
 
Complete Schedule:
02.21 – UE vs Murray State – 2:30 p.m. (Live Stats)
02.21 – UE vs Lipscomb – 5:00 p.m. (Live Stats)
02.22 – UE vs Morehead State – 10:00 a.m. (Live Stats)
02.22 – UE vs Alabama A&M – 12:30 p.m. (Live Stats)
02.23 – UE vs Appalachian State – 10:00 a.m. (Live Stats)
 
Evansville's pitching staff will come into the tournament after a solid debut last weekend at the Samford Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. Freshman Briana Combs leads the team with a 1.17 ERA and a 1-0 record and junior Megan Gurski pitched 6.0 innings allowing only two runs on two hits for an ERA of 2.33.
 
On the offensive side, Gurski leads UE with a .462 batting average with six hits and eight total bases. Freshman Susan Norris comes into the weekend with a .286 batting average with a home run and three RBI, and junior Kayla Fortner has been displaying her strong offensive skills as well with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI.
 
Scouting the Opponents:
 
Murray State (5-2, 0-0 OVC)
Murray State enters the Blues City Classic with a 5-2 record. Murray State has beaten Central Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Gardner Webb, Alabama State and Alabama A&M this season. Alexa Becker is leading the way offensively for the Racers with a .429 batting average (9-21), two doubles, a home run and four RBI. In the circle, CheyAnne Gaskey leads the Racers with a 3-1 record, 3.50 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
 
Lipscomb (8-1, 0-0 A-Sun)
The Bisons will come to Southaven with an 8-1 record with their only loss coming against No. 14 Missouri in the Getterman Classic last weekend. Lipscomb has beaten Miami (Ohio), Tennessee State, Virginia Tech, Butler, Iowa, Drake, Baylor and UAB. Offensively Paige Neely leads Lipscomb with a .500 batting average, including 15 hits, three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI. The Bisons' best pitcher this season has been Tanner Sanders, who enters the tournament with a 5-0 record in 28.1 innings pitched.
  
Morehead State (1-4, 0-0 OVC)
Morehead State brings in a 1-4 record to Southaven, as the Eagles defeated Louisiana-Monroe at the Plainsman Invite on Feb. 08. Morehead State was scheduled to compete in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament last weekend, but it was canceled due to weather. MSU's top players include Samantha Howard, who boasts a .214 batting average with two home runs and five RBI and Megan Tymorek, who comes in having a 1-2 record with 10 strikeouts.
 
Alabama A&M (6-5, 0-0 SWAC)
The Bulldogs come into the Blues City Classic with a record of 6-5, having beaten Bluefield State, Fayetteville State, Clark Atlanta, North Carolina A&T (twice) and Gardner-Webb. Alabama A&M's top performers are Taiya McInnes, who has a .484 batting average and nine RBI, and Cassandra Brown, who owns a 3-0 record in 19.0 innings pitched.
 
Appalachian State (1-6, 0-0 SoCon)
The Mountaineers will come to Southaven with a 1-6 record, with their lone win coming against Presbyterian last weekend in the Buffalo Wild Wings Spartan Invitational. Ashley Seering is leading the way for the Mountaineers offensively with a .381 batting average, two home runs and seven RBI. Shivaun Landeros owns a 1-4 record in 25.2 innings pitched along with 10 strikeouts.
 
After the Aces compete in Southaven, the team will host the Evansville Invitational from March 1-2 at Cooper Stadium.