Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—The Indiana State softball team (16-34, 5-19 MVC) stole three bases to tie the Missouri Valley Conference record of 100 in a single season in a 4-2 series win over the Purple Aces of Evansville (20-28, 11-12 MVC) Sunday at Price Field.
"Halle Humphrey pitched well in a three games and gave us a chance to win every single time, which was big," head coach Shane Bouman said. "We got key hits in the second game yesterday and key hits today and a big home run by Mackenzie Connelly. As far as base running, we have always ran aggressively, and getting on base really makes things happen. Its a great time to be a Sycamore."
Pitching her fifth game of the week, freshman Halle Humphrey set the Purple Aces down in order in the top of the first inning, throwing just seven pitches.
The Sycamores then got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when freshman Kelsey Montgomery singled and stole second base before advancing to third on a throwing error by the Aces catcher. Montgomery then scored off a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Shelby Wilson to give the Sycamores a 1-0 lead.
The Aces answered back in the top of the third inning when they scored one run off three hits to tie the game 1-1.
Senior Alex Lucas got another Sycamore rally started in the bottom of the fourth when she led off the inning with a double before advancing to third on a single by senior Mackenzie Connelly. Connelly then stole second base on a delayed steal to give the Sycamores 100 on the season and tied the Missouri Valley Conference record.
The very next batter, freshman Abbie Malchow, hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Lucas and give the Sycamores a 2-1 advantage after four innings.
Evansville battled back again, however, in the top of the sixth when a leadoff walk came around to score off a double to center field to tie the game at 2-2.
The Sycamores then broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman Paige Schreiner reached on an error to lead off the inning before sophomore Megan Bunting pinch ran and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Lucas.
Connelly then crushed a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run, her second homer of the season, to give the Sycamores a 4-2 lead, one they would not give up. Humphrey pitched a perfect seventh inning as the Sycamores went on to win their first series of the season with a 4-2 win over the Purple Aces of Evansville.
Connelly finished the game 2-3 with two RBI's and a run scored with a home run and stolen base while Montgomery was 2-3 with two stolen bases for the Sycamores. Humphrey pitched a complete game allowing just five hits and two earned runs while striking out four and throwing just 74 pitches.
The Sycamores will wrap up their regular season next weekend when they host the Salukis of Southern Illinois in a three-game series.
