Fresno State Athletics
No. 6 Evansville Aces (34-25)
5/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Conference: Missouri Valley
Enrollment: 2,234
Nickname: Purple Aces
Colors: Purple, White & Orange
President: Stephen Jennings
Athletics Director: Bill McGillis
Senior Woman Administrator: Dr. Cory Schwartz
Head Coach: Gwen Lewis (Indiana State, 1986)
School Record: 325-275-1 (11 years)
Career Record: Same
Assistant Coach: Peg Boardman
2002 Record: 34-25
002USA Today/NFCA Final Regular-Season Ranking: None
NCAA Regional Appearances: 1st
WCWS Appearances: None
NCAA Postseason Tournament Record: None
NOTES: The 34-25 Purple Aces earned their first NCAA Tournament berth Saturday with a 3-2 victory over top seeded Illinois State in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament at Normal, Ill. Evansville is the sixth seed in the six-team regional at Fresno, and plays in Thursday's opener of the double-elimination tournament against top seeded Cal State Fullerton
Evansville spent most of the regular season in second place in the MVC, but dropped to fourth on the last weekend of the regular season by losing two of three at Northern Iowa. However, UE got off to a good start at last week's MVC Tournament by defeating third seeded Southern Illinois and second seeded Creighton. After losing to top seed Illinois State, the Aces came back to beat Creighton again and advance to the championship, where they beat Illinois State in a dramatic 3-2 game.
Freshman pitcher Katie Markle was chosen as the MVC Tournament MVP after posting a 4-0 record and 0.79 earned run average. Also making the all-tournament team were outfielder Bridget Broerman (.308), shortstop Jamie Davison (.333) and outfielder Joni Woods, who hit only .154 in the tourney but drove in two-game winning runs.
Freshman designated hitter Brooke Luker hit .313 in the tournament, as did third baseman Trish Wetzel. Sophomore catcher Samantha Doner threw out three of four would-be basestealers.
The softball team is the third to represent the University of Evansville in NCAA Division I Championships in 2001-02. The women's soccer team lost to eventual champion Santa Clara in the first round at Champaign, Ill. in November, and freestyler Kim Dodson represented UE at the NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships in March.
