Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Evansville softball improved to 4-8 in Missouri Valley Conference play today, splitting a doubleheader at Illinois State to win the three-game series with the Redbirds. Illinois State took game one by a score of 4-0, but the Aces were able to pull out a 4-3 seventh-inning win in the nightcap to clinch the 2-1 series record against the Redbirds.

With the win, the Aces improve to 10-24 on the season. Evansville now represents two of Illinois State’s conference losses, as the preseason favorites fall to 7-4 in the Valley and 22-16 overall.  

As a team, the Aces put up 15 hits on the day with only four strikeouts at the plate. Junior Tamara Robey ended the day 4-for-7 with a double and a run batted in.

The Aces’ home doubleheader against Saint Louis that was originally scheduled for April 11 has been moved to April 19, so Evansville will next return to action next weekend with a home series against Wichita State.

Game One Recap:
A pair of two-run innings was all it took for the Redbirds to even up the series with a 4-0 win in game one.

The Redbirds scored first in the bottom of the third, when a two-out home run by Jhavon Hamilton scored Nichelle Harrison and Kara Repp, who had reached base on a single and a fielder’s choice, respectively.

With the Redbirds leading 2-0, Hamilton led off the bottom of the fifth with a single before scoring on a triple by Lauren Kellar. Kellar later scored on a wild pitch, giving Illinois State the 4-0 advantage.

Junior Sarah Patterson took the complete-game loss in the circle, fanning four Redbird batters as the four earned runs scored on six hits.

Freshman Victoria Dellorto was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, tallying two singles and a walk. Not one UE batter recorded a strikeout in game one, as Illinois State pitcher Megan Warner improved to 8-5 on the season.

Game Two Recap:
The Aces struck first in the second half of the doubleheader, using a double by Robey and a single by senior Amy Gaertner to jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

But the Redbirds quickly answered in the bottom of the frame, as Hamilton hit a solo home run to open the inning for Illinois State. Kellar, who has reached base on a walk, later score on a single by  Laura Canopy to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead going into the top of the second.

In a quick response, the Aces wasted no time putting two more runs on the board in the top of the second to reclaim the lead. Senior Allison Aguilera led off with a walk before freshman Mariah Ferguson entered the game as a pinch runner. Ferguson advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Dellorto before a single by junior Brianna Villanueva put runners on the corners for UE. Sophomore Katie Sears then forced an Illinois State throwing error as she reached base safely, scoring Ferguson and advancing Villanueva to third. Robey then notched her second hit of the game, singling to left field to bring home Villanueva and give the Aces the 3-2 lead.

Once again answering to the rally, the Redbirds quickly tied the game at 3-all in the bottom of the second. Harrison began the frame with a single to right field before being moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Then a single to center by Lindsay Greene was enough to score Harrison and tie the game.

The game was held at a standstill over the next four innings as both sides combined for eight more hits as the game entered the bottom of the sixth. Three walks, one of which was intentional, loaded the bases for the Redbirds, but with two outs on the board, sophomore Taylor Perry managed a two-out fly-out to end the threat and the inning.

Still tied 3-all in the final frame, junior Kendall Kautz delivered a pinch-hit single to spark an Aces’ rally in the top of the seventh. Villanueva reentered the game to replace Kautz at first base before she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sears. Robey then worked a walk to get on base before Villanueva and Robey pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. Villanueva was caught in a rundown between home and third to count as the second out of the inning, but Robey was able to advance to third on the play. After freshman Kayla Fortner was intentionally walked, Gaertner then came through with a clutch single to score Robey and give UE the 4-3 edge.

The Redbirds didn’t go down easy in the bottom of the inning, as a double and two walks gave Illinois State the bases loaded with two outs. But Perry was able to force an infield ground out to end the inning and secure the series win for the Aces.

Perry improves to 3-4 on the season, tallying her second win of the weekend with the complete-game victory. Perry allowed nine hits and seven walks while picking up four strikeouts in her seven innings of work.