TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State softball team broke its 10-game losing streak in a big way on a sunny afternoon at Price Field as they swept a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader from Evansville by scores of 1-0 and 4-2. Freshman pitcher Darcy Wood played a role in both victories as the Sycamores improved to 11-26, 6-17 in the Valley while the Aces fell to 14-31, 5-18 MVC.

Wood tossed a complete game one-hitter in the day's first contest, receiving the only support she would need in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Julie Damico was hit by a Katie Markle pitch. She stole second base, and scored on a single by Jackie Chomicki for the 1-0 advantage.

The Aces could not mount a rally in the contest as Kim Nichols reached second base in the top of the fifth, but was stranded when Juliet Nicholson struck out.

Wood stuck out 10 Evansville batters in the victory to improve her season record to 9-14. She allowed just one hit in the contest as she posted her fourth shutout of the season. Markle took the hard-luck loss, dropped to 7-16 on the season, despite allowing just one Sycamore hit.

The ISU offense staked itself to a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings, then held on and added an insurance run after the lead shrunk the just one. Jessica McGivney stroked a one out double to left centerfield and finally scored on a Julie Damico single to center with two outs for the 1-0 advantage.

Back-to-back doubles by Ashley Trover and Lacey Frankland netted the day's second run before McGivney singled to score Biniewicz for the 3-0 lead. The Aces would add a pair in the bottom of the third to cut the Sycamore lead to just 3-2.

Wood then relived Damico and McGivney who tossed the first three innings, en route to her first career save. That save opportunity was aided by a McGivney double to right field which scored Natalie Kopp for the 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning. 

Damico made her second start of the season in the circle and allowed just two hits in two innings of work, not allowing a run. The victory would eventually go to McGivney who allowed two runs in the third before Wood earned the save with four scoreless innings of work.

McGivney was the Sycamore hero at the plate as she went 3-of-4 on the day with two RBI, including what proved to the game-winning and insurance RBI in the third and seventh innings. Melissa Biniewicz enjoyed a multi-hit performance by going 2-for-4 in the contest.

The wins moved ISU into eighth place in the Valley standings, four games behind Illinois State for the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament race.

Indiana State and Evansville will face off once more this weekend as they take to the diamond tomorrow (May 1) with a first pitch scheduled for Noon (CDT).

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE