Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Evansville softball team fell in a pair of one-run games today against Creighton, after threatening a comeback in both parts of the doubleheader. The Aces came up just short in a 4-3 decision in game one before falling in game two by a final score of 2-1.

Sophomore Katie Sears extended her hitting streak to seven games, going 3-for7 at the plate with an RBI and a walk. Sophomore Niki Rahming and senior Maggie Little each notched their first home run of the season, both with solo shots in game one. Junior pitcher Sarah Patterson struck out a season-high eight batters in the second loss of the day.

The Aces (13-30) will take on Creighton in the series finale tomorrow with a single game beginning at noon.

Game 1: UE 3, Creighton 4
A leadoff hit followed by an infield error gave the Blue Jays runners at first and second with no outs to start the bottom of the first in game one. Three consecutive singles then pushed across two runs, giving Creighton a 2-0 lead before the inning ended.

Another round of three back-to-back singles in the bottom of the second allowed the Blue Jays to manufacture a one more run, extending their lead to 3-0.

Rahming put the Aces on the board in the top of the fourth, belting her first home run of the season to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-1.

Sophomore Emily Morris entered the game in the bottom of the fourth in relief of starter Taylor Perry. Morris worked out of a jam in her first inning of the game, after her first batter reached on an error before a soft infield single put runners at on first and second with nobody out. But Morris was able to field two ground outs and record a strikeout to end the inning and hold the Blue Jays scoreless.

But the Blue Jays were able to score again in the bottom of the fith, as Bri Lingl hit her seventh home run of the season with a solo shot to start frame. Morris was able minimize the damage after the hit, retiring the next three batters she faced to move to the top of the sixth with Creighton leading 4-1.

Senior Maggie Little blasted her first home run of the season to start the top of the sixth for the Aces, as the score moved to 4-2. With one out in the inning, junior Halie Malone was put on board with a hit by pitch. Sophomore Kacey Rogers, who entered as a pinch-runner for Malone, was advanced to second by a well-executed sacrifice bunt from junior Brianna Villanueva. Sears then came through with an RBI single through the right side as Rogers was waved home from second, avoiding the tag at the plate to cut Creighton’s lead to just one run at 4-3.

A tough defensive performance by the Aces in the bottom of the sixth held the Blue Jays scoreless, as the Aces entered the seventh with the heart of their lineup due at the plate. Freshman Kayla Fortner led off the inning with a single up the middle before a flyout by Amy Gaertner put one out on the board. With freshman Victoria Dellorto at the plate, Fortner tripped and fell on her leadoff from first base and was then picked off trying to get back to the bag for out number two. Creighton starter Becca Changstrom was able to then retire Dellorto to shut down the possible rally and secure the 4-3 win.

Perry took the loss in the circle, giving up three runs on seven hits while picking up four strikeouts in 3.0 innings in the circle. Morris finished the relief effort with one earned run on three hits with two strikeouts.

Game 2: UE 1, Creighton 2
Creighton’s Alexis Cantu notched her thirteenth home run of the season, hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the third to put Creighton on the board with a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Jays added another run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. A walk and a single put runners at first and second for Creighton with two outs on the board. Lingl then hit a quick line drive single to right field, but Dellorto was able to come up quickly with the throw to Villanueva at third to catch lead runner Christa Ruf in between home and third. Villanueva then attempted to pick Ruf off at the bag, but an overthrow allowed Ruf to cross the plate, moving the score to 2-0. An intentional walk issued to Amy Baker loaded the bases, but Patterson came through to retire Blair Lowe and end the inning.

Down to their last three outs of the game, the Aces threatened a comeback as Little led off the inning with a walk before her pinch runner, Rogers, advanced to second on an illegal pitch. With Creighton starter Cantu struggling with illegal pitches throughout the game, head coach Brett Vigness was forced to make a pitching change, bringing in Sammy Snygg to finish the inning. With one out, Rahming hit a sharp grounder for a single, moving Rogers to third to give UE runners at the corner. Junior Alicia Betancur then delivered a pinch-hit single to centerfield, scoring Rogers as the Aces cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 2-1. But Snygg was able to retire the next two batters en route to securing the win and the save as Creighton took game two by a final score of 2-1.  

Patterson took the loss in the circle despite a strong pitching performance. The junior scattered five hits and allowed two runs while striking out a season-high eight batters.