Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – With a late start at the CU Sports Complex for the University of Evansville softball team, they were able to knock off No. 3 Illinois State Thursday night by a score of 5-3 to continue on in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
 
The Aces produced eight hits against the Redbirds as junior Kacey Rogers went 2-for-3 at bat with a run scored. Sophomore Victoria Dellorto and senior Alicia Betancur added to the offense for UE as each went 2-for-4 at bat as they combined for three runs and a stolen base.
 
Evansville will head into the semi-finals as they face No. 2 Drake at 2:35 p.m. CST at the CU Sports Complex in Omaha, Neb., on Friday, May 10. There will continue to be radio broadcasting at WUEV.org and Live Stats available online. Valley Live TV will also continue to broadcast a live video stream online for free.
 
For more information on the action, visit Tournament Central.
 
Game Recap: IllinoisState 3, UE 5
Evansville got started early in the top of the first after senior Kendall Kautz was able to score off an error by the Redbirds to give UE the early 1-0 lead.
 
As freshman pitcher Sarah Baldwin retired the Illinois State lineup in order, the Aces continued to expand its lead in the top of the second frame after a pair of singles placed runners on the corners while senior Tamara Robey followed with an RBI single of her own to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Illinois State was able to manufacture a pair of runs of its own in the bottom half of the second inning as they knotted the score, 2-2, after a bases loaded walk was issued by Baldwin and a ground out to third base allowed runners to cross home plate heading into the third.
 
UE did not let in at the plate as they took the lead once again after a pair of back-to-back errors by Illinois State and an RBI single up the middle by freshman Kirsten O'Conner in the top of the third inning made it a 3-2 game.
 
With a pitching change for Evansville in the Redbird’s half of the third inning , senior Sarah Patterson was able to work UE out of a one out jam as she retired two batters in order with a runner in scoring position for Illinois State.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning for the Aces, Illinois State tallied another run on the board to tie it up once again with an RBI single to left field that made it a 3-3 game heading into the fifth.
 
As nothing went for either team in the fifth frame, UE advanced the score, 5-3, after a single to center field by Rogers and yet another error by the Illinois State allowed Rogers and Robey to cross home plate and take the lead over the Redbirds.
 
Due to the infield workings of the Evansville defense, Illinois State was left scoreless in the sixth inning as a pair of pop ups and a fly out to center field in the seventh ended the game. The Aces took the victory over the Redbirds, 5-3, as they improved to 22-29 on the season.
 
Patterson got her second win in the MVC Tournament as she moved to 15-10 on the season. Patterson pitched 4.2 innings while issuing one strikeout and allowing one run. Baldwin saw the start as she pitched 2.1 innings in the circle while striking out one and allowing two runs.
 
Illinois State pitcher Taylor Baxter received the loss as she pitched a complete 7.0 innings and struck out one. Baxter allowed just one run and ended her season 15-8 in the circle.
 
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