Evansville (39-19, 13-12) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and Illinois State (33-18-1, 18-9) rallied, but the Birds came up short falling to the Purple Aces 7-5 on Senior Day.
The Aces jumped all over Redbird starter Stacy Birk in the first inning. Leadoff Emily Winters kicked off the rally by hitting a line drive to right field that Carly Weinstein mishandled, allowing Winters to go to third. The ensuing batter walked and then stole second to put runners on second and third. Ashley Werners only hit of the day was a single to short center field that scored both runners to give UE the early lead. The next batter reached on a fielders choice as Werner was forced out at second and the throw to first for the double play was late. Designated player Kim Nichols then sliced a drive down the right field line to put runners on the corners.
After giving up two hits and a walk, Birk gave way to Shannon Nicholson. The first batter she faced singled up the middle scoring the runner from third. The Chatham, Ill., native struck out the next batter before giving up another single and walking in the fourth run of the inning.
Third baseman Mandy Garner got the Redbirds going in the first with a bloop single up the middle. Emily Krueger was then walked to put two runners on the base paths. Junior Kate Stake reached on a fielders choice before the next two batters went down in order leaving two runners on base.
Evansvilles Katie Markle stymied the Redbird offense until the third inning. Illinois States first run came on a two-out solo homer by Krueger to left field in the third. It marked her 18th four-bagger this season.
The Birds got hot again in the fifth. With two outs, sophomore Tricia Gaither reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. Markle walked the next three batters for the Redbirds second score of the game. Dominique Borba then came up with ISUs only hit of the inning but it was a big one. Borba smacked a line drive up the middle that scored two to even the score at 4-4.
The Purple Aces came back with another run in the sixth when shortstop Jamie Davison reached on a single up the middle. Then Emily Winters doubled down the left field line and the ball appeared to be foul but was ruled fair allowing Davison to score, giving UE a one-run lead.
Illinois State tied up the score again in the bottom of the frame as Randi Patton drilled a pitch over the wall in left field. But Pattons homer marked the final Redbird run of the game as Evansville rallied in the top of the seventh for two runs off two hits, two walks and an ISU error. ISU fought back again but they came up short leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
The Birds managed just five hits while committing two costly errors. Birk (19-7) took the loss for ISU.
The No. 3 seeded Redbirds will square off with No. 6 Evansville again on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Carbondale, Ill.
