EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Indiana State softball blasted four home runs in a 12-4 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Cooper Stadium to claim a series win over Evansville.

The Sycamores (22-23, 9-12) finish the series with 30 runs on 35 hits, including eight home runs en route to a pair of run-rule victories to take the series over the Purple Aces (23-21, 8-13).

The Action
Evansville started the game off hot at the plate, taking a 2-0 lead into the third inning after a pair of solo shots in the first two innings off of Cassi Newbanks who started for the Sycamores. Newbanks settled in, finishing her outing with five strikeouts over 2.1 innings.

In the top of the second, Lexie Siwek recorded her 100th career hit with a single through the left side.

Olivia Patton led the third inning off with a single off of third base which set the Sycamores up for a four run frame. With two outs in the inning, Cassie Thomerson drew a walk which was followed by an Annie Tokarek single to centerfield. Both Patton and Thomerson would come around to score because of an Aces throwing error which tied the game at two. Lexie Siwek followed Tokarek with a RBI double to put Indiana State up 3-2. Danielle Henning capped the scoring in the inning with a RBI single to score Siwek to extend the Sycamore lead to 4-2.

Lexi Benko replaced Newbanks in the third and got a pair of groundouts to get the Sycamores back in the dugout where the offense would turn in another four-run inning in the fourth.

Abi Chipps led the inning off with a walk and went first-to-third on a wild pitch to set up a Bella Peterson RBI single to right field to make it a 5-2 game. Amanda Guercio then launched a two-run home run to dead center to put the Sycamores up 7-2. Following a groundout, Annie Tokarek hit her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot, to give Indiana State an 8-2 lead.

Following back-to-back walks to begin the bottom of the fourth, Lexi Benko caught a line drive from Hannah Hood then turned and fired to shortstop Kennedy Shade for a double play. Benko got the next batter to fly out to retire the side.

After Evansville made a pitching change to begin the fifth inning, Danielle Henning drew a leadoff walk which brought up Kennedy Shade who promptly homered down the left field line. The third home run of the game for ISU and Shade's second home run of the season put the Sycamores up 10-2. Abi Chipps reached on a single to centerfield with two outs to bring Amanda Guercio to the plate where she hit a towering shot over the wall in left field for her second home run of the game and the Sycamores fourth of the night to put Indiana State up 12-2.

Marah Wood drove in two runs for the Purple Aces in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 12-4 game but Lexi Benko was able to strand her on second and finish the game for her 11th win of the season. The Sycamores finished with 13 hits while holding Evansville to just five.

Around the Horn
-Every Sycamore starter recorded at least one hit as Indiana State finished with 13.

-Amanda Guercio hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season, recording her second 2-HR game against Evansville in 2022.

-Lexie Siwek recorded her 100th career hit with a single in the second inning.

-Indiana State now has 10 games with double-digit hits as a team.

-The Sycamores improve to 53-49 all-time against Evansville.

Up Next
Indiana State will continue their road slate with a trip to Cedar Falls for a three-game series against Northern Iowa.

For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.