TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State scored all of its runs in the first inning and used big defensive plays and strong pitching to carry the Sycamores to a 3-2 win over Evansville Wednesday afternoon at Price Field.
 
The win seals the series win for the Sycamores (16-29, 4-16 Missouri Valley), the third straight year Indiana State has claimed the season series over the Purple Aces (16-26, 6-13). The teams had previously split a doubleheader in Evansville on April 10.
 
Indiana State's prolific opening frame began with a leadoff infield single by Leslie Sims, who promptly stole second. Two outs and a walk later, Bella Peterson made the first of two key plays in the game with a single through the left side that sent Sims across the plate. Brooke Mann added two more to the ISU tally with an RBI single through the left side that scored Peterson and pinch runner Kristen Kelly. Mann would finish the day 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk.
 
While the Sycamores wouldn't score any more runs in the game – despite putting runners in scoring position in four of the next five innings – Indiana State's pitching and defense held up. While an error led to an Evansville run in the third, Peterson made her second critical play with a diving catch in right field in the fourth to prevent an extra-base hit.
 
Evansville would pull within one with an RBI single in the fifth but a fly ball to left ended the threat and ISU pitchers recorded three strikeouts over the final two innings to seal the win.
 
Gabbi Schnaiter (9-12) was credited with the victory after allowing one earned run on six hits while walking four and striking out two. Arielle Blankenship (2) claimed the save after allowing just a walk and a hit in the final 1.2 innings.
 
Emily Lockhart (8-13) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and not recording a strikeout in 2.0 innings. Haley Woolf led UE with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate but was constantly thwarted with no RBI or runs scored.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Making plays both at the plate and in the field earns Bella Peterson this honor. With a 1-for-3 performance at the plate, Peterson both scored a run and drove one in. But she also was impressive in the field with four put outs, including a diving catch in the fourth inning that most assuredly saved a run.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
With three stolen bases in the game, that brought this season's total to seven stolen bases the Sycamores recorded against Evansville over the three-game series. Leslie Sims was responsible for six of those seven stolen bases.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Gabbi Schnaiter, Indiana State (9-12)
• Loss: Emily Lockhart, Evansville (8-13)
• Save: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (2)

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 16-29 (4-16 MVC)
• Evansville: 16-26 (6-13 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State now leads the all-time series over Evansville, 51-47. The Sycamores are 33-21 all-time over the Purple Aces in Terre Haute and have won the last three season series.
• Leslie Sims recorded two stolen bases, pushing her season total to 29 swipes and her career total to 75 stolen bases. She ranks fifth all-time in Valley history in career stolen bases.
• Leslie Sims run in the first inning moved her to 101 career runs scored, tying Sara Lemond (2000-03) for third all-time in Sycamore history.
• Brooke Mann's walk in the fifth inning marked her 58^th career walk, moving her into a tie for third all-time at Indiana State alongside Jessica McGivney (2004-07) and Alexa Cavin (2013-16).
• The three stolen bases for Indiana State marks the fourth consecutive game and 23 time overall this season ISU has stolen multiple bases in a game.
• Kristen Kelly recorded her second stolen base of the season in the game while also scoring her fourth run of the season, the first in a Valley game.
• ISU now has 75 stolen bases on the year, a mark that ranks third all-time in school history. The single season record is 100 stolen bases recorded in the 2013 season.

 
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