Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville softball team split with Creighton in the opening day of the Missouri Valley Conference season. UE fell to the Blujays 6-0 in game one before pulling out a 4-2 victory in the second half of the doubleheader.
With the win, the Aces improve to 5-16 on the season and 1-1 in Valley play. Creighton dropped to 10-13 overall.
Sophomore Alicia Betancur extended her hitting streak to four games, going 3-for-5 on the day at the palte. Flawless in the field, UE’s defense committed no errors during the 14 innings of the doubleheader.
The Aces will wrap up the series with game three against the Bluejays tomorrow at noon.
Game 1: UE 0, Creighton 6
Creighton ace Becca Changstrom (7-5) pitched as advertised, allowing just two hits during the complete-game shutout to take the win in game one.
Changstrom had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the sixth inning before junior Allison Aguilera delivered a leadoff single. Betancur added the Aces’ second hit of the game with a leadoff single of her own to start the seventh inning.
Freshman Taylor Perry (0-1) was credited with the loss in her second start of the season, allowing five runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Freshman Emily Morris closed the game for the Aces, giving up one run on two hits.
Game 2: UE 4, Creighton 2
Kendall Kautz was dominating on the mound, allowing just three hits as she picked up her first complete-game win of the season. Keeping the Creighton hitters at bay, Kautz (2-3) collected three strikeouts in 24 batters faced as she posted her first MVC win of the season.
Evansville used a four-hit first inning to jump out to an early 3-0 lead to start game two. Junior Amy Gaertner hit her sixth double of the season to score Betancur and senior Jen Stahlhut. Freshman Kacey Rogers followed with a single up the middle to allow Gaertner to cross the plate as the Aces’ third run.
In the top of the second, MacKenzie Michael sent a solo-home run over the left field fence to put Creighton on the board at 3-1.
Senior Kelci Alsip hit a leadoff single and advanced to second base on a Creighton throwing error to give UE a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Tamara Robey put down a sacrifice bunt to allow Alsip to score, giving UE a 4-1 lead.
Creighton threatened to make a comeback as Amy Baker hit a solo-home run to start the seventh inning, but Kautz was able to retire the next three batters to give UE the 4-2 win.
Betancur led the Aces’ offense with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate.
