EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Freshman Ashtyn Holbrook hit two home runs including a grand slam to help the University of Evansville softball team earn a doubleheader sweep over Murray State on Friday at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium. Kate Ridgway threw her second consecutive shutout in the first game while Holdbrook added a grand slam in the second contest. Maliyah Wilkins had the game-winning hit to finish off the night.
 
The teams meet up on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the series finale.
 
Game 1 – UE 3, Murray State 0
Late home runs by Brooke Voss and Ashtyn Holbrook combined with another shutout from Kate Ridgway helped the Purple Aces take the opener by a score of 3-0.
 
Looking to take an early lead, Murray State put a runner on third with one out in the top of the first before Ridgway picked up a pair of strikeouts to end the threat. Niki Bode and Emma McDonald each registered hits in the opening frames, however, the game was scoreless heading to the third. In the top half of the third, the Racers looked to open the scoring once again. With two runners on, Ashtyn Holbrook threw a runner out at home on a base hit to keep things at 0-0.
 
Evansville finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. After Emma McDonald's ground rule double with one out, Voss came to the plate and launched her team-leading 6^th home run of the year to give the Aces a 2-0 lead.
 
Holbrook added some insurance with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. Ridgway took care of business from there as she secured her second consecutive shutout. Ridgway struck out six batters while giving up six hits. UE finished the game with seven hits with Bode and McDonald registering two apiece.
 
Game 2 – UE 6, Murray State 5
Maliyah Wilkins hit a walk-off single to lead the Aces to a 6-5 victory to sweep Friday's doubleheader. Evansville led by a 5-0 score after the first inning before Murray State clawed its way back. Following a single run in the fifth, the Racers scored four in the top of the seventh to tie the game.
 
After the opener took five innings to open the scoring, the Aces got things rolling in the first. Singles by Brooke Voss and Niki Bode brought Morgan Adams to the plate. Her ground rule double brought in the first run of the game. Following a walk by Eliza Piggott, Holbrook hit a grand slam to left center to make it a 5-0 game.
 
Evansville continued to hold the 5-0 advantage until Murray State scored a single run in the top of the fifth. They did even more damage in the 7^th as they tied the game with four runs. Evansville used five pitchers in the inning as the Racers loaded the bases after tying the score. After tossing a shutout in game one, Kate Ridgway entered and secured the final out to keep the game tied.
 
Looking to rebound after the MSU rally, the Aces put two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th. Pinch hitter Maliyah Wilkins drove the 1-0 pitch to left field for the game-winning double to bring in pinch runner Keghan Pye.
 
Alexis Tucker threw six innings in the game with two runs scoring on three hits. Ridgway earned her second win of the day as she recorded the final out in the top of the 7^th. UE had eight hits in the game with Bode and Adams finishing with two apiece.