Box Socre
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville softball team completed the sweep of Indiana State and secured a spot in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a 7-0 win today’s series finale against the Sycamores.

With Wichita State losing in its final game against Drake, the Aces finish eighth in MVC regular play, clinching the final spot in the Valley tournament with an 8-19 conference record.
The Aces (18-36) will now travel to Carbondale, Ill., to face No. 5 Creighton on Thursday in the first round of the MVC Tournament.

Game Recap: UE 7, Indiana State 0
Sophomore Katie Sears started the game with a double to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball before freshman Kayla Fortner walked to put runners on the corners with one out. Fortner advanced to second on a stolen base before another passed ball allowed her to move up to third as Sears crossed the plate to put the first run on the board. Senior Allison Aguilera walked to put runners on the corners again before the third passed ball of the inning allowed Fortner to score as Aguilera advanced to second. Sophomore Kacey Rogers then entered the game as a pinch-runner for Aguilera, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Senior Amy Gaertner then chopped a groundout back to Sycamore pitcher Lindsey Beisser, but  it was good enough to score Rogers from third, giving Evansville a 3-0 lead before the inning ended.

Gaertner blasted her sixth home run of the season to start the bottom of the fourth, sending a solo shot over the left field wall. Sophomore Niki Rahming then drove a one-out single through the left side before junior Brianna Villanueva laid down a perfectly placed bunt for a base hit to put two runners on for the Aces. A double steal moved both runners up to second and third with Sears at the plate. Sears attempted to bunt for a hit, but was thrown out by a half a step to shut down the inning with the Aces leading 4-0.

Fortner notched her first hit of the series with a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth. Aguilera followed with a hit by pitch to bring Gaertner to the plate with two runners on board. Gaertner delivered, hitting a hard liner up the middle to mark her second hit of the game and load the bases. Freshman Victoria Dellorto then cranked a single through the left side, scoring Fortner to increase UE’s lead to 5-0. Niki Rahming then worked a full-count walk to bring in Aguilera. Senior Ashleigh Rahming hit a fielder’s choice grounder that was good enough to score Gaertner as Dellorto was thrown out at third. Leading 7-0, pinch-hitter senior Maggie Little drove a line drive up the middle, but ISU second baseman Hailey Tinsman robbed her of the hit to end the inning.

Junior Sarah Patterson notched the win, allowing just five hits and striking out four in the complete-game shutout.