PEORIA, Ill. – Saturday's final two games against Bradley saw the University of Evansville softball team pick up two victories to clinch the series at OSF Healthcare Field. The pitching staff was crucial as Alexis Tucker, Elle Jarrett, and Kate Ridgway combined to allow one run in the final two games of the weekend.
 
Game 2 – UE 2, Bradley 0 (continued from Friday)
 
After weather halted the game in the 5^th inning on Friday, the teams resumed play on Saturday as the Purple Aces finished with the 2-0 victory.
 
Evansville opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on Friday. Maliyah Wilkins led off with a double and would score on an RBI single by Emma McDonald. One inning later, it was Wilkins who picked up the RBI. After Taylor Howe hit a 1-out double, Wilkins singled up the middle to double the lead to 2-0.
 
Following the weather stoppage in the 5^th, the game picked up where it left off on Saturday. The Braves picked up a hit in the 6^th and two more in the 7^th, but UE was able to finish with the victory. Alexis Tucker made the start and threw 6 1/3 innings. She allowed six hits and struck out four on the way to her sixth win of the season. Elle Jarrett recorded the final two outs to earn her first save of 2026.
 
Wlikins and Howe picked up two hits apiece as the Aces finished with seven in the contest.
 
Game 3 – UE 3, Bradley 1
 
Saturday's rubber match saw the Purple Aces open a 3-0 lead before hanging on to clinch the series with the 3-1 victory.
 
UE jumped in front with a pair of runs in the top half of the 2^nd. Morgan Adams hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a Jess Willsey sacrifice. With two outs, Angela Valentine hit a single to left to bring in Adams. After Keghan Pye reached on an error, Brooke Voss singled to left to score Valentine for the second run of the game.
 
After the offense gave her the lead, Kate Ridgway settled in retiring six batters in a row. In the top of the 4^th, Voss' RBI double scored Valentine to make it a 3-0 game. The Braves loaded the bases in the fifth and stranded two in the sixth, but Ridgway got out of both jams.  Down to the final three outs, Bradley rallied once again in the bottom of the 7^th. They scored their first run of the game before loading the bases before Ridgway registered the final two outs to seal the win.
 
Voss and Wilkins recorded two hits apiece while Voss drove in two of the three UE runs. Valentine scored twice. Ridgway went the distance striking out six batters while giving up three hits to win her 9^th game of the season.