EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville softball players freshman Kayla Fortner and sophomore Katie Sears have been named to the 2012 All-Missouri Valley Conference second team, as announced at the MVC Tournament banquet tonight.
 
Fortner was named to the MVC’s second team as a first baseman, after leading the Aces’ offense the entire season and finishing the regular season ranked fourth in the MVC with a .364 batting average. She closed out regular season play ranked in the MVC’s Top-10 in several offensive categories, including a sixth place ranking in on base percentage (.467), hits (55), RBI (34), doubles (11), and total bases (83). Her season walk total of 26 put her in fifth place in the UE record books for single season base on balls. The Cedar Hill, Mo., native because the 26th Purple Ace to be named MVC Player of the Week in the history of the program, after leading all Division I hitters with a .593 season average, hitting four doubles, a triple and a home run in eight games during the week of March 5. Fortner was also recently named to the College Sports Madness All-MVC first team as an outfielder.
 
Sears was announced as second team all-MVC outfielder after leading the Valley and ranking 25th in all of Division I with four triples this season, averaging a league-best .08 triples per game. Sears’ led the Aces’ offense in Valley play, posting a .364 batting average against conference opponents. The Chicago, Ill., native also led the Aces with 16 stolen bases on the year, tying for sixth in the Valley with 0.6 stolen bases per game and going 16-for-20 stolen base attempts. The lefthander led UE’s lineup in runs scored (25), triples (4), hit by pitch (6) and stolen bases (16).

Click here to see the full release courtesy of the MVC.