HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The leading hitter for the University of Evansville softball team continued to roll as Niki Bode went 2-2 with two runs and two walks to help the Purple Aces take an 8-3 win over Northern Kentucky on Tuesday at Grein Field.
 
Bode led the way with two hits for UE while five others recorded one hit apiece. Jess Willsey scored two runs while driving in another. In the circle, Kate Ridgway recorded her 10^th win of the season. In seven innings, she allowed three runs on four hits while walking just one batter.
 
Evansville jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with three hits in the top half of the 1^st. Taylor Howe's 1-out double was followed by a double from Bode to score the opening run of the game. With two outs, Morgan Adams' single to left scored Bode to make it a 2-0 game. The Norse responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the score.
 
Maliyah Wilkins put UE back in front in the top of the 3^rd. Her sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Keghan Pye. Following a single run by NKU in the bottom of the 4^th, Evansville added to its lead in the top of the 5^th. Bode and pinch runner Dori Brown each scored on a fielding error by NKU to extend the lead to 6-3.
 
UE continued to build the lead as Ashtyn Holbrook picked up an RBI single while Keghan Pye's RBI groundout plated the eighth run of the day. Ridgway took care of business from there holding the Norse two just two baserunners over the final three innings.
 
Next up for the Aces is a weekend trip to UIC.