Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind— The University of Evansville softball team split in today’s home doubleheader against Austin Peay, dropping a 1-0 extra inning decision in eight innings to start the day before notching a 4-1 win over the Lady Govs in the night cap.

The Aces put up 11 hits against Austin Peay, led by sophomore Katie Sears and senior Maggie Little who each chipped in a pair of hits on the night. Senior Amy Gaertner notched her fifth home run of the season with a solo shot in game two.

Defensively, Evansville was flawless in both halves of the doubleheader, marking the third consecutive game that the Aces have been perfect in the field.

The win improves Evansville to 15-32 on the season. UE will resume Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, hosting a three-game series against Drake.

Game 1: UE 0, APSU 1 (8 innings)
The Aces threatened to score in the bottom of the fifth as senior Allison Aguilera led off the frame with a pinch-hit single through the left side. Mariah Ferguson, who entered as a pinch-runner for Aguilera, advanced to third on a pair of groundouts. With two outs on the board, freshman Kayla Fortner was hit by pitch to put runners on the corners for Gaertner. But Austin Peay starter Morgan Brewer was able to force an infield pop-up to shut down the threat and end the inning still tied at 0-0.

The game remained tied through regulation, allowing the international tie-breaker rule to take effect in the top of the eighth inning. With Kayla Davidson starting the inning at second base, Brewer laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Davidson to third for the Lady Govs. A line drive right at Niki Rahming at shortstop put two outs on the board, but Caitie Cozart broke through with a 2-2 double off the right field wall, scoring Davidson to give Austin Peay the 1-0 lead.

With Fortner placed at second in the bottom of the frame,  Gaertner poked a groundout that was good enough to move Fortner up to third. But Brewer came through with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game with Fortner stranded on third.

Junior Sarah Patterson (8-16)  took the tough-luck loss in the circle, scattering four hits and fanning five Austin Peay batters in the complete-game outing.  

Game 2: UE 4, APSU 1
Sophomore Katie Sears worked a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the first inning in game two. Sears then advanced to second on a stolen base before moving up to third on a groundout by junior Tamara Robey. With two outs on the board, Little was able to sit on a change up to drive a single up the middle, scoring Sears to give UE the 1-0 lead.

Lauren deCastro hit a one-out solo home run in the top of the third to even the score at 1-all. Two more singles put runners on the corners, prompting a two-out pitching change by head coach Mark Redburn. Replacing Patterson in her eleventh inning of the night, sophomore Taylor Perry was able to extinguish the threat with an infield groundout as the game remained tied going into the bottom of the third.

With the game still tied at 1-1, Gaertner blasted her fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth, cranking a solo shot to dead center to put the Aces on top 2-1.

An illegal pitch by APSU reliever Taylor Mills resulted in a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter junior Alicia Betancur to start the bottom of the fifth. Sears followed with a single up the middle to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before Robey was walked to give what should have been bases loaded for UE. But the fourth ball issued to Robey was called as the second illegal pitch of the inning, allowing Betancur to cross the plate as Sears moved up to third base. With runners on the corners, Fortner knocked a sacrifice fly into centerfield, scoring Sears to extend the Aces’ lead to 4-1.

Perry (5-7) notched the win in the circle, tossing 4.1 innings of scoreless relief as she allowed just one hit and issued a single walk in the effort.