EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After scoring five runs in the first two innings, the University of Evansville softball team held on for a 5-3 victory over Bellarmine on Wednesday at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium. With the victory, UE improves to 8-1 in its last nine games.
 
Taylor Howe and Niki Bode each recorded two hits. Howe scored twice while Bode plated a run. Jess Willsey and Brooke Voss also scored. Alexis Tucker threw six innings on the way to her fifth win of the season.
 
It did not take long for the Purple Aces to get rolling as they recorded four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brooke Voss led off with a walk while Howe and Bode singled to load the bases with no outs. Eliza Piggott hit a sacrifice fly to open the scoring.
 
Willsey followed with the third single of the inning and moved to second on an error by the Knights. Two runs would score on the play. Ashtyn Holbrook followed with another single to cap a 4-0 start. In the second frame, Howe executed another bunt single before scoring on a double from Bode.
 
While the offense had the early momentum, the defense did its job as Alexis Tucker tossed a gem. In six innings of work, Tucker allowed one run on three hits while striking out two batters. The Knights never gave up as they scored three runs in the top of the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs. Kate Ridgway entered and was able to record the final out to earn her second save of the season.
 
UE is home for a 3-game weekend series against UNI. A 2:30 p.m. doubleheader on Friday opens the weekend before a single game at 2 p.m. Saturday.