Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Evansville (5-6) opened day one of the 2012 War Eagle Classic with an 11-3 run-rule win over Louisiana Tech tonight. Senior Amy Gaertner tallied a pair of home runs and picked up five runs batted in to power the Aces’ offense in the win.

Four Aces recorded a multi-hit game in tonight’s victory. Freshman Kayla Fortner ended the night 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and three RBI. Fortner has totaled at least one hit in all of UE’s 11 games so far this season.
Junior pitcher Sarah Patterson notched the complete-game win, scattering six hits while striking out seven Tech batters in her six innings of work.

The Aces will return to the field tomorrow for day two of the War Eagle Classic. Evansville will play in back-to-back games, kicking off the action at 12:30 p.m. against No. 19 Auburn before taking on Drexel at 3:00 p.m

Game Recap: UE 11, La. Tech- 3
Louisiana Tech was the first team on the board as a solo home run by Tricia Van Winkle gave the Techsters a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

But with the top of the lineup due at the plate, the Aces wasted no time answering in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Victoria Dellorto cranked a triple to right field before sophomore Katie Sears followed with a walk. Sophomore Niki Rahming came through with a single, as the Tech defense held Dellorto at third and give UE bases loaded. Fortner then doubled to centerfield, bringing in both Dellorto and Sears to give UE the 2-1 advantage. Later in the inning, junior Halie Malone, who had reached base with a walk, was able to score on a Louisiana Tech error, pushing the score to 3-1 going into the top of the fourth.

The Aces totaled six hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to stretch their lead to 8-1. With one out on the board, Rahming doubled to left field before later advancing to third on an illegal pitch. Fortner then singled through the right side, bringing home Rahming and extending the lead to 4-1. Malone singled and advanced on the throw to put runners at second and third before Gaertner knocked out her first home run of the season, picking up the three RBI to move the score to 7-1. Junior Alicia Betancur followed the homer with a walk before moving to second on a single by senior Allison Aguilera. With two outs and runners on first and second, Dellorto singled up the middle to score Betancur and give Evansville an 8-1.

The Techsters cut UE’s lead to 8-3 in the top of the sixth, starting the inning with a leadoff single before Alayna Kipp homered to left field to score Tech’s second and third run of the game.

But the Aces quickly retaliated in the bottom of the sixth, as Fortner tallied her third hit of the game with a one-out single. Malone then reached on a fielder’s choice as Fortner was thrown out at second. With two outs, Gaertner came through again, blasting her second homer of the game to increase Evansville’s lead to 10-3. One run away from the mercy rule, Betancur reached base on an error before Aguilera walked to put Betancur in scoring position. Junior Tamara Robey delivered a clutch single to left to bring Betancur home and secure the 11-3 run-rule win for UE. .