Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The University of Evansville softball team fell in today’s single game against Western Kentucky by a final score of 3-0. The Lady Toppers used two home runs to score all three runs of the night.

The Aces notched six hits as a team in the loss. Sophomore Niki Rahming led the offense on the day, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Junior Sarah Patterson took the loss in the circle, scattering five hits and fanning three batters in her 12^th complete-game effort of the season.

The Aces (15-36) will return home to wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against Indiana State this weekend. With a bid to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on the line, Evansville must win all three games against the Sycamores to keep its post-season hopes alive.

Game Recap:
Junior Alicia Betancur started the top of the second by reaching base on a WKU infield error. Rahming followed with a hit in the first pitch of her at bat, dropping a single in shallow center to put runners at first and second. A fielder’s choice cut down Rahming at second, giving UE runners on the corners with junior Halie Malone at first. An infield groundout advanced Malone to second with two outs on the board. Freshman Victoria Dellorto then attempted a suicide bunt attempt in an effort to bring home Betancur, but she was thrown out by a half step at first base to close out the inning and shut down the threat.

The bottom of the second started with a hit by pitch, as Patterson put Laura Smith on with her eighth hit batter of the season. Amanda Thomas then delivered a one-out home run over the centerfield wall to give WKU the 2-0 lead.  

Back-to-back singles by Dellorto and sophomore Katie Sears gave Evansville runners at first and second with one out in the top of the fifth. A double steal attempt led to an errant throw by WKU catcher Karavin Dew, as Dellorto tried to score from third on the overthrow but was gunned down at home on a bullet from leftfielder Kelsie Mattox. Sears was able to advance to third on the play, but was stranded at the bag as the inning ended on a strikeout.

Mattox added to Western’s lead with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to edge the score to 3-0.