MONROE, La. – Friday marked the first two games of the Best on the Bayou Tournament for the University of Evansville softball team who took on Northwestern State and Syracuse.
 
Game 1 – Northwestern State 3, UE 0
 
Northwestern State recorded three runs on eight hits on their way to a 3-0 win over the Purple Aces in Friday's opener.  The Demons scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames.  NSU had the first scoring opportunity of the day, posting two hits in the bottom half of the first. 
 
Jess Willsey's leadoff double in the top of the third was Evansville's first hit of the game but the threat would end on a double play.  Two runners made it on in the fourth for UE when Jenna Nink was hit by a pitch before Brooke Voss reached on a single to right with one out.  Unfortunately, NSU got out of the jam with two pop outs. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Northwestern State pushed the first run across on an error before scoring a run on a wild pitch in the fifth to make it a 2-0 game.  Megan Brenton, who came on in relief of Mikayla Jolly in the frame, pitched out of a bases loaded situation to limit the damage.  One more run came home in the sixth for NSU and that would make the final run of the game with the Demons taking the 3-0 decision.
 
Jolly posted a solid effort in the circle, allowing one run on six hits in four innings.  She suffered the loss.  Brenton tossed the final two innings and gave up two runs while striking out five.  Maggie Darr was the winning pitcher for NSU.  She scatted three hits in the complete game performance.  Offensively, Tristin Court went 3-for-4 as NSU out-hit the Aces by an 8-3 final.
 
Game 2 – Syracuse 10, UE 0
 
Three runs in the third, four in the fourth and three more in the fifth saw Syracuse finished Friday's game with a 10-0 victory in five innings.  The Orange accumulated 10 hits and three walks.
 
Evansville recorded the first hit of the game when Jess Willsey doubled to center with one out in the second.  Niki Bode added a second baserunner with her 2-out walk, but a strikeout ended the inning.  That is when Syracuse took control.  Angel Jasso got the Orange on the board with a 3-run home run to center.  She struck again with an RBI double as part of a 4-run fourth inning.
 
In the fifth, Madelyn Lopez hit a 2-run single to highlight a 3-run inning that extended the lead to 10-0, which would be the final score.  Madelyn Knight tossed four inning of one-hit ball before Jessie DiPasquale threw a scoreless fifth.  Elle Jarrett was Evansville's starter and gave up seven runs, five earned, in 4 2/3 innings.  Gracie Hollingsworth went the final 1/3 inning. 
 
Saturday's action for UE begins with a 2 p.m. game against Sam Houston before the Aces face UL Monroe at 7 p.m.