University of Evansville Athletics

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Wednesday's action at the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championship saw the University of Evansville softball team fight to the finish before dropping contests to Murray State and Northern Iowa at Charlotte West Stadium.
 
After dropping a 9-1 game to Murray State in Wednesday's opener, the Purple Aces fell to UNI in the second game by a score of 11-7.
 
Game One – Murray State 9, UE 1 (5 innings)
Helped by a 5-run bottom of the fifth, Murray State took Wednesday's opener by a final score of 9-1. After scoring a single run in the second, the Racers added three runs in the next inning.
 
Niki Bode hit a solo home run to cut into the deficit in the top half of the fourth and UE remained within three runs until the bottom of the fifth. MSU scored five times to complete the 9-1 victory.
 
Kate Ridgway threw the first 3 1/3 innings with four runs scoring. Alexis Tucker tossed 2/3 of an inning while Elle Jarrett recorded the final two outs. Bre Haislip tossed the full five innings for Murray State allowing one run on three hits.
 
Bode along with Morgan Adams and Angela Valentine had the hits for UE. The Racers tallied 11 hits with Kynadee Warner, Parker Holcombe, and Katy Huels posting two apiece.
 
Game Two – UNI 11, UE 7
After the Purple Aces scored four runs in the top of the first, UNI belted four home runs to defeat UE by a final of 11-7 on Wednesday evening. Brooke Voss led the way going 3-4 with a home run. Niki Bode added two hits.
 
Voss hit a leadoff home run to highlight a 4-run top of the first for the Purple Aces. The offense came out hitting on all cylinders as Keghan Pye and Niki Bode followed with singles before a walk by Morgan Adams loaded the bases for Maliyah Wilkins. Her fielder's choice scored Pye while Bode crossed the plate on an error. Jess Willsey capped the scoring with an RBI infield single.
 
UNI quickly made it a 1-run game in the bottom of the second when Drew Hinrichs hit a 3-run home run down the left field line. Evansville got one of the runs back in the top of the third when Wilkins crossed the plate on a Taylor Howe single. The Panthers stormed right back in the bottom of the frame to take their first lead. Ava Smithson's 2-run shot tied the game before a single from Hinrichs gave UNI a 6-5 lead. Another 2-run shot put the Panthers on top 8-5 at the end of the fourth.
 
UE never gave up as Emma McDonald brought her squad back within one run. After Angela Valentine was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, McDonald launched a homer to right center to make it an 8-7 game. Just when it looked like the Aces secured the momentum, UNI came back with three in the bottom of the sixth to go in front 11-7 and they would take the victory by that score. Hinrichs was the top performer for the Panthers going 3-4 with four RBI.
 
Kate Ridgway suffered the loss allowing six runs in 2 2/3 innings. Alexis Tucker went three innings while Gracie Hollingsworth tossed 1/3 inning in relief.