Box Score
CARBONDALE, Ill. –  The University of Evansville softball team lost a heartbreaking 6-5 decision to the #5-seeded Creighton Bluejays in the first game of the 2012 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Aces led the Bluejays 4-3 going into the sixth inning, but the game was ultimately decided by a two-out three-run home run by Creighton’s Christa Ruf in the bottom of the frame.  

Sophomore Katie Sears, junior Tamara Robey, and senior Amy Gaertner all ended the game with a pair of base hits as the Aces tallied nine hits on the day. Gaertner was named to the 2012 All-Tournament team after going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Sophomore Emily Morris takes the tough-luck loss in the circle, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.0 innings of work. Junior Sarah Patterson scattered four hits and allowed four runs in 4.0 innings in the start.

The Aces finish the 2012 season with an 18-37 record.

Game Recap: UE 5, Creighton 6
Evansville jumped out to an early 3-0 lead to start the game as Sears worked a full-count leadoff walk in the top of the first.  Robey singled through the left side to put runners at first and second before freshman Kayla Fortner was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Creighton starter Becca Changstrom then hit senior Allison Aguilera in the very next at bat, allowing Sears to walk home for the first run of the game. With the bases still loaded,  Gaertner took an outside pitch to the right field wall, missing the grand slam by just a few feet. Both Robey and Fortner scored on the double, as the Aces extended their lead to 3-0 with still no outs on the board. A strikeout marked the first out of the inning before freshman Victoria Dellorto walked to load the bases yet again. The game was then temporarily halted due to an injury to home plate umpire, Larry Nagle. When play resumed, Changstrom was able to bounce back with two strikeouts to end inning with the Aces still leading 3-0.

Alexis Cantu was hit by the first pitch of the inning before Amy Baker delivered a single to put Creighton runners on at first and second to start the bottom of the fourth. Bri Lingl then hit a three-run shot over the left field wall to tie the game at 3-all with still no outs in the inning. Patterson retired Blair Lowe to put one out on the board before head coach Mark Redburn brought in Morris in relief. Morris was able to retire the next two batters, ending the inning with the game tied.

A pair of walks to Fortner and Gaertner put runners at first and second with two outs in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Kacey Rogers entered the game as a pinch-runner for Fortner at second before sophomore Niki Rahming belted a two-out RBI single, as Rogers slid into home just before the throw to give UE a 4-3 lead.

Creighton threatened to score in the bottom of the frame, using a walk and a single to put the tying and go-ahead runs on with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.  But Aguilera snagged a sharply hit liner down the first base line to record the third out and silence the threat.
Lingl started the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle before being replaced by pinch-runner Emily Perry. With one out in the inning, Changstrom hit a short groundball single, but a throwing error by Gaertner allowed Perry to advance to third. Patterson then reentered the game to replace Morris in the center circle, retiring Creighton pinch-hitter Hailey Kreiser to put two outs on the board.But Christa Ruf then hit a 2-2 home run over the right-center wall, driving in three runs as the Bluejays claimed a 6-4 lead.

Down to the last three outs of the game, Aguilera singled through the left side to start the bottom of the seventh. Gaertner followed with a single to the outfield, allowing Aguilera to advance all the way to third to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch moved Gaertner to second before Rahming hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Aguilera to make it 6-5. But Changstrom was able to retire the final two batters of the game to seal the win for the Bluejays.