May 10, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - In a game so evenly matched it took extra innings to decide the outcome, eighth-seeded Indiana State pulled the first upset of the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship by defeating fifth-seeded Evansville, 3-2, Thursday at the Redbird Softball Complex in Normal, Ill.
Sycamore third baseman Jessica McGivney broke the 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth inning by hitting a line drive into left field that scored shortstop Meredith Simpson, who reached earlier on a one-out single off of UE's Ashley Hobbs.
Indiana State improves to 22-26 overall, while Evansville ends it season with a 33-20 record.
Indiana State took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when designated player Lauren Kebely drove home right fielder Natalie Kopp on a single up the middle off of UE shortstop Cassey Kemna's glove. Kopp had reached base with a lead off single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Yvette Tovar. Kebely cost the Sycamores a chance for a bigger inning by being caught in a rundown rounding second, a play that resulted in the rare center fielder to right fielder putout in the infield for the Purple Aces.
The Sycamores' lead didn't last long as Evansville tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. Liz Mooney led off the frame for the Aces with a walk and was pinch run for by Weslie Gladfelter, who came around to score on a free pass with the bases loaded to Kemna. Mooney was advanced along the base paths thanks to Krista Price being hit by a pitch and Tovar failing to record the fielder's choice at third base on a swinging bunt by UE's Lauren Rather in front of home plate.
In the fourth inning, the two teams swapped solo home runs with Indiana State first baseman Stephanie Spychaj and Evansville's third baseman Lissa Fehlman each hitting a shot just over the 190-foot sign in the left field corner.
Indiana State advances to face fourth-seeded Wichita State in a quarterfinal match up Thursday afternoon. First pitch between the Sycamores and the Shockers is scheduled for 4 p.m.
