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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville softball team swept the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks this afternoon in a mid-week doubleheader at Cooper Stadium.
 
The Purple Aces (12-9) beat the Redhawks (5-13) in game one of the doubleheader in extra innings, by a score of 6-5, and in game two by a score of 8-4.
 
Coach Mark Redburn was very excited about his team's performance on Thursday afternoon:
 
"It was a nice day for offense; we kind of had a breakout day today. We've been doing well with stolen bases on the year, but if we can't get that going, we will always welcome the homeruns! We were able to square up on balls and despite getting robbed a few times by the defense; we really liked what we saw from our girls."
 
"We were able to see some of the new players in the circle and in the field and I was really excited about that. We were glad to get away with the first game as well, despite the extra innings."
 
 
Game One
In game one of the doubleheader Evansville started junior Megan Gurski in the circle and Gurski threw two scoreless innings before the Redhawks were able to score in the top of the third. SEMO was able to score on a steal by Summer Burger giving the Redhawks the early 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the third UE was able to put two runs on the board, with the first being an RBI single from Kayla Fortner and a Gurski steal home on a double-steal that saw Fortner get thrown out by the catcher to second base, but Gurski would reach before the out, giving UE the 2-1 lead.
 
Gurski held SEMO scoreless in the top of the fourth and the Purple Aces added to their lead on an RBI double by sophomore Kirsten O'Conner, giving UE the 3-1 lead.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, Emily Morris entered the game for Gurski, who finished with five strikeouts and one run against in 5.0 innings of work, in the top of the sixth and things got interesting.
 
SEMO would score on a three run homerun by right fielder Meghan Touchette and an RBI single by third baseman Savannah Carpenter, giving the Redhawks a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Purple Aces wouldn't give up though, scoring two single homeruns from Susan Norris and Kirsten O'Conner in the inning and tying the game 5-5.
 
Briana Combs (3-1) entered the game for Evansville and the freshman kept SEMO from scoring in the top of the seventh, but UE wasn't able to capitalize in the bottom of the inning and we would see extra innings.
Combs kept the Redhawks off the board in the top of the eighth and with it being extra innings we saw the mercy rule come into play.
 
With Kayla Fortner already on second base, Susan Norris was walked and Michal Luckett would ground out to second advancing Fortner and Norris to second and third. SEMO would throw a wild-pitch and Fortner was able to advance home and the Aces won by a score of 6-5.
 
Game Two
After an extra-innings performance in game one, Evansville would start sophomore Annie Moore (3-1) in the circle for UE.
 
The top of the first inning saw an RBI single from Rachael Duncan giving the Redhawks an early 1-0 lead.
 
Evansville was unable to put a run on the board in the bottom of the first and SEMO was able to add one more run with a homerun off of Moore in the top of the second to give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.
 
UE though wouldn't be behind for long as the Purple Aces scored five runs in the bottom of the second, giving them the lead for good. Emma Buckles hit a two run RBI single to start the scoring off for UE and the Aces weren't done. Gurski reached on an error by the leftfielder and this would drive in Buckles, score now 3-2 Aces. Power hitter Kayla Fortner stepped to the plate and homered, driving in Gurski in the process and giving Evansville the 5-2 lead.
 
Taylor Perry would enter the game for Moore, as the sophomore eventually received the win, pitching 2.0 innings, striking out three and only allowing two runs. Perry gave up a homerun in the top of the third and SEMO cut the score down to 5-3.
 
After a scoreless bottom of the third, Perry held SEMO scoreless in the top of the fourth and this is where UE added to their lead. Susan Norris had her second homerun of the day, on a three run bomb that went over the Cooper Stadium scoreboard, giving UE the 8-3 lead.
 
The Aces brought in freshman Emma Buckles to pitch in the top of the fifth and the usual right fielder didn't disappoint coach Redburn. Buckles would pitch two scoreless inning for UE and after a scoreless bottom of the sixth, Evansville brought in fellow freshman Danielle Freeman to close out the game.
 
Freeman allowed one run in the top of the seventh but pitched a strong rest of the inning to end the game, as Evansville would win the game 8-4.
 
The Purple Aces will play again this weekend against Missouri Valley Conference rival Bradley at Cooper Stadium on March 22-23, with the first game starting at noon on Saturday.