EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing by a 6-0 score in the 4^th, Maliyah Wilkins hit a grand slam to bring the University of Evansville softball team within a run before Western Kentucky finished with a 7-5 win on Wednesday at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.
 
Wilkins led the way for the Purple Aces finishing with four RBI off the grand slam. Morgan Adams recorded two hits as UE finished the game with seven. WKU registered 12 hits in the contest with Jenna Blanton going 3-for-4.
 
Western Kentucky took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo home run from Annie White. Brooke Voss looked to tie the game as she led off with a single. A Hilltopper error saw her try to score before being called out on a close play at the plate.
 
After taking a 2-0 lead in the second, WKU looked to add more in the top of the third when they loaded the bases with one out. Angela Valentine made a huge defensive play at third to turn a double play to keep the deficit at two runs. The Hilltoppers struck again with four runs in the fourth. Evansville made another stellar defensive play to limit the damage. Jess Willsey backhanded a ground ball to second and flipped it to Voss for the out.
 
In the bottom of the 4^th, the Purple Aces got on the board. Taylor Howe led off with a single and stole second before advancing to third on a passed ball. She scored on Eliza Piggott's base hit. Her efforts were the start of a 5-run inning that saw Evansville cut the gap to a single run. Morgan Adams followed with a double while Willsey reached on a walk to load the bases.
 
Maliyah Wilkins entered to pinch hit and sent the first pitch she saw over the left field wall for a grand slam. It was her second home run in as many nights. WKU stranded two runners in the top of the 6^th as UE kept it a 1-run ballgame. In the top of the 7^th, the Hilltoppers added an insurance run and would finish with the 7-5 win.
 
Alexis Tucker suffered the loss as she allowed two runs in an inning of work. Elle Jarrett threw 2 2/3 frames while Sophia Otten threw the final 3 1/3 with just one unearned run scoring over that span. Erica Rouge was credited with the win for the Hilltoppers. She threw the final 3 2/3 innings allowing just one hit.
 
This weekend, UE travels to Bradley for a 3-game set.