Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Evansville softball team improved to 21-29 on the season as they defeated No. 6 Missouri State in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in eight innings, 4-2.
 
The Aces offense was led by senior Alicia Betancur as she went 2-for-2 at bat with two RBI singles, a pair of walks, and a stolen base.  Seniors Kendall Kautz and Halie Malone also took charge at the plate as they both went 2-for-3 and combined for two doubles, two RBIs, and a walk.
 
“Our girls stayed patient and our defense did extremely well,” said head coach Mark Redburn. “In typical fashion, we just kept playing.”
 
UE will head on into tournament play as they are set to face No. 3 seeded Illinois State at approximately 6:35 p.m. on Thursday, May 9.
 
Game Recap: Missouri State 2, UE 4
With a scoreless first three innings, Kautz was able to double down the left field line on the first pitch of the fourth inning to place herself in scoring position. Betancur then notched her first RBI single of the game to right field and allowed Kautz to reach home plate and tally the first run on the board as the Aces took the lead over Missouri State, 1-0.
 
The Bears were able to answer right back in the bottom of the fifth as they knotted the score, 1-1, with a solo home run to left center.
 
Moving into the sixth, Evansville was able to once again grab the lead over Missouri State with yet another RBI single to left field by Betancur to make it a 2-1 game. After a two-base sacrifice fly to right field, the Bears tied it up in their bottom half of the sixth, 2-2, for the second time heading into the top of the seventh.
 
A scoreless seventh frame took it into extra innings for the Aces as the top of the eighth saw sophomore Kayla Fortner and a double down the right field line. Kautz then followed up with a double of her own to left center and allowed Fortner to score and make it a 3-2 game, with UE in the lead.  With a single and a walk that allowed the bases to be loaded, Malone was able to grab an RBI single up the middle to drive in a runner and expand the lead even more, 4-2, over the Bears.
 
Missouri State’s half of the eighth saw a pair of pop ups and a foul out that stranded two runners and allowed Evansville to take the victory in extra innings and advance into the tournament, 4-2.
 
UE pitcher Sarah Patterson grabbed her 14^th win of the season as she improved to 14-10 in the circle. Patterson pitched a complete 8.0 innings while recording five strikeouts and allowing just one run.
 
Missouri State pitcher Chelsea Jones suffered the loss as she ended her season15-20 in the circle. Jones pitched a complete 8.0 innings as she issued two strikeouts and allowed four runs.
 
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