EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Evansville (17-20) hit two home runs as part of a three-run fifth inning to get by Southeast Missouri (14-24), 5-1, Tuesday night at Cooper Field.
 
Clinging to a one-run lead, the Purple Aces pulled away for good when nine-hole hitter Emma McDonald led off with a solo home run and Maliyah Wilkins later added a two-run shot to widen UE's lead to four.
 
SEMO did not have a hit in its final two at-bats of the contest.
 
The Purple Aces took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and the Redhawks made it a one-run game when Raigan Brannon homered in the top of the fourth for her team's only run. For Brannon, it was her second home run in three games.
 
Maddie Carney (4-10) pitched 2.1 innings giving up two runs on five hits. Carney faced 11 hitters.
 
Summer Branch threw the final 3.2 inning with three runs and four hits allowed. Branch also walked three and struck out three.
 
Kate Ridgway (8-8) went the distance for UE. Ridgway surrendered just one run on four hits, walked four and struck out seven in seven innings.
 
UE outhit SEMO, 9-4.
 
Kamden Hutton, Kinley Wilkins and Sydney Miles joined Brannon with one hit each.
 
A total of 18 players saw action for the Redhawks.
 
SEMO turns around quickly to face Big Ten Conference member Illinois in Champaign Wednesday.