Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The University of Evansville Purple Aces softball team fell this afternoon in a close game against Eastern Kentucky. The Aces fell to Eastern Kentucky by a final score of 6 to 4, leaving UE with a 2-2 record on the season.
 
Evansville, who beat the Colonels on Friday afternoon by a score of 4-3, started the game off right with juniors Victoria Dellorto and Kayla Fortner getting on base early in the top of the first and Chandra Parr bringing them home with a single and then an advance to second on the throw. Parr on the day had 1 at-bat with a hit and 2 RBI.
 
Going into the bottom of the second up 2-0, the Aces Annie Moore came in to try and continue the lead, but wasn't able to hold the Colonels offense. The Colonels came away with a 4-2 lead after a wild inning that saw 4 runs on 5 hits against the sophomore Moore.
 
The second inning was a scoreless one for both teams as neither the Aces nor the Colonels could get any offense going against the opposing pitchers. Evansville took advantage of the scoreless second inning by freshman Courtney Land getting walked and stealing second then freshman Chandra Parr was hit by a pitch leaving the Aces with two on base. Senior Niki Rahming came to the plate and hit a single to center field driving in Land in the process and bringing the Aces within one run. Michal Luckett stepped to the plate to try and give the Aces the lead but grounded out to the pitcher.
 
With the score being 3-4 in favor of EKU, Evansville brought in senior Emily Morris(1-1) to pitch for Moore and Morris came away with a clean bottom of the third.
 
UE came into the top of the fourth, down one run and the Aces were determined to catch Eastern. After Kirsten O'Conner struck out, senior Kacey Rogers was walked by the pitcher and freshman Emma Buckles came in to pinch run for Rogers. Buckles was able to steal second and then on a Dellorto strike out, Buckles was able to steal third. Megan Gurski stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle of the field bringing in Buckles in the process and tying the game 4-4 going into the bottom of the fourth. This would be as close as the Aces would come.
 
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth inning by Morris, the Aces offense couldn't get anything going in the top of the fifth and the Colonels took advantage.  EKU was able to score another run in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the bottom of the sixth, leaving the score 6-4 going into the top of the seventh. Emily Morris finished the day with 4.0 innings pitched with only 7 hits against her and two strikeouts.
 
The top of the seventh saw the Aces, who looked to come back on the day fall just short, with three strikeouts to end the game.
 
Evansville(2-2) will look to bounce back next weekend as they participate in the Blues City Classic in Southaven Miss., against Murray State, Lipscomb, Morehead State, Alabama A&M and Appalachian State. The Tournament will begin on Feb.21 and go to Feb.23.