For the second time in two days, the University of Evansville softball team fought back to defeat Illinois State in extra innings as the Aces took two of three from the Redbirds in a three-game series with a 3-2 win in nine innings today at the Lloyd Expressway Complex in Evansville, Ind.
I thought we played a good game, Illinois State head coach
Melinda Fischer said. The whole series was competitive, reminding me of the Southern Illinois games, but you have to give Evansville credit because they came from behind to win again.
With a two-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh, Joni Woods of UE hit her first career home run to send the game to extra frames where Trish Wetzel hit the game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth.
With two Missouri Valley Conference losses on the weekend, the Redbirds are now 26-15, 14-3 in the league. ISU is still holding on to first place, but the second-place Aces got a stronger grip on the run for the regular-season title by taking two over ISU. UE is now 31-13, 15-6 in the Valley.
Woods' home run came with the Aces trailing 2-0 in the seventh, after failing to put anything together against ISU's star pitcher, Nicole Kurth, who suffered only her fourth loss of the year and second in MVC action. She ended the game with eight strikeouts and allowing eight hits.
Illinois State got on the board in the first. Shae Wesley led off the game with a single, went to second on a bunt and scored on a Becky McMurtry single. ISU scored again in the sixth when Jamie Bagnall drove home Cutie Taylor with a base hit to centerfield.
Evansville wasted leadoff doubles in both the second and third innings. The Aces had runners in scoring position five times but could not score against Kurth until the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Emily Winters led off with a walk before Woods launched her two-run homer to left field. Jessica Huff and Bridget Broerman drew walks, and advanced on a wild pitch, but Kurth once again worked out of the jam.
The Aces took the win in the ninth. Huff led off with a single, was bunted to second, and scored when Wetzel bounced a double off the right field fence.
We had our chances, we put ourselves in position to score and come back but we seem to have trouble finishing ballgames, Fischer said. We had timely hits early then they had timely hits late and that was the story of the game. When it counted, their bats came through.
Both pitchers stuck out the game, Fischer continued. But this team has to be able to fight back and we couldnt do that this weekend. Tomorrow, they have to be prepared and ready.
The Redbirds face Indiana State in a single game Monday afternoon in Terre Haute, Ind. The 3 p.m. start is the third and final game of the series between the schools this year. The Sycamores visited the Redbird Softball Complex on April 4 where the Birds won 1-0 and 4-3.
