Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville softball team (3-3) dropped a pair of one-run decisions in day two of the UE Tournament today at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium. The Aces first fell to Detroit by a final score of 4-3 in their first game of the day before ending the tournament with a 3-2 loss to Butler in the nightcap.

As a team, the Aces hit .285 on the day with 16 total hits. Leadoff batter freshman Victoria Dellorto ended the day going 4-for-8 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Sophomore Katie Sears batted .375 on the day, including a 3-for-4 performance in game two.

UMKC posted wins against both Butler and Detroit in the final day of the round robin to claim the title of tournament champions.

The Aces will return to action on March 6, traveling to El Paso, Texas for a four-game series with the UTEP Miners.


Game 1: UE 3, Detroit 4
The Aces struck first in game one, taking advantage of back-to-back Detroit errors to put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the second. Freshman Lauren Lum then hit a high fly ball which dropped in front of the plate for a single and allowed senior Allison Aguilera to score from third. Dellorto followed with a double to left, bringing in sophomore Niki Rahming and Lum to give UE the 3-0 lead before being picked off as she was rounding second to end the inning.  

After three scoreless innings from both sides, the Titans were able to rally in the top of the sixth as Sara Cupp knocked a two-run homerun to put Detroit within one run at 3-2. With one out on the board, sophomore Emily Morris entered the game in relief of junior Kendall Kautz and was able to retire the next two batters to shut down the Titan’s offensive spark.

Detroit struck again in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single by Vanessa Garcia. A wild pitch and an infield groundout moved Garcia to third before a single up the middle brought her across the plate to count as the tying run. The Titans then strung together a double and single through the left side to push across the winning run.

Morris took the loss in the relief effort, giving up two runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Game 2: UE 2, Butler 3
Butler wasted no time getting on the board in the final game of the day, using a pair of singles and a double, coupled with a UE fielding error, to plate two runs in the top of the first.

Sears answered with a perfectly placed bunt in the bottom of the frame to give the Aces a baserunner on first. With Gaertner at the plate, Sears stole second and was able to advance to third on the overthrow by Butler’s catcher. Gaertner then came through with a sacrifice fly to right center to bring Sears home and cut Butler’s lead to 2-1 going into the top of the second.

The Bulldogs managed to add another run in the top of the third as Lauren McNulty reached on a single before crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly to give Butler the 3-1 lead.

The Aces loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth after Aguilera and sophomore Niki Rahming each got on base with a single. Junior Kendall Kautz then drew a pinch-hit walk to give the Aces three runners on with two outs. But Butler starter Jenny Esparza was able to sit down pinch hitter Kacey Rogers to extinguish the threat and hold UE at 3-1.

With two outs remaining in the bottom of the seventh, Sears chopped in a single to centerfield and was able to make it to second as Butler mishandled the ball. Gaertner then belted a line drive to left field, forcing another Butler error and bringing in Sears to push the score to 3-2. Fortner followed with another single to left field, but Butler was able to gun down Gaertner as she tried to tie the game at home, leaving the Aces with two outs and a runner at second. However, Esparza once again came through for the Bulldogs, striking out Aguilera to end the threat and secure the win.

Starter Sarah Patterson (1-2) took the loss on the mound, scattering five hits while striking out four Bulldogs in five innings of work.