EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville Purple Aces softball team is set to travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take on Northern Iowa in a weekend Missouri Valley Conference series.
 
The MVC rivals will play on Saturday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday, March 30, at 12:00 p.m. at the UNI-Dome.
 
UE will enter the weekend series coming off of a big 8-0 win over Belmont, as the Aces traveled to Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday.
 
The Purple Aces enter the weekend with a 13-12 overall record and a 1-4 MVC record. The host UNI has an overall record of 15-8 and a 3-2 MVC record.
 
Evansville's freshmen have had a major impact on the Purple Aces success this season, starting with two-way player Emma Buckles. Buckles leads the team with 11 stolen bases, has a .313 batting average, 11 runs and nine RBI. The freshman has also made two appearances in the circle this season. Buckles has pitched 5.0 innings and struck out one batter.
 
Besides Buckles, are freshmen Chandra Parr, Susan Norris and Michal Luckett. Parr has two homers and 14 RBI and 13 runs scored, Norris has three homeruns and eight RBI and Luckett has the fifth highest batting average on the team, .290, and has started all 25 games for Evansville at the shortstop position.
 
The Panther's come in behind Rikki Alcarez, who has a .338 batting average, the third highest on the team, 2 homeruns and 11 RBI. Julie Hunter has hit 4 homeruns and has 14 RBI, to go along with a .296 batting average.
 
Pitcher Jamie Fisher has been strong in the circle for UNI. Fisher enters the weekend series with a 2.11 ERA, a 9-5 record, 81 strikeouts and 2 saves in 96.1 innings of work.
 
After the Aces face the Panther's this weekend the team will host UT Martin in a mid-week doubleheader at Cooper Stadium on April 2^nd.