The University of Southern Indiana softball team struggled to produce much offense this afternoon as it lost a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference games to Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles, who fall to 13-11 overall and 3-4 in the GLVC, were held to a combined five hits as they lost both games by a score of 2-0.

Senior Danielle Garnett (Griffith, Indiana) pitched both games and, despite giving up a combined four runs and seven hits in 12 innings of work, was charged with both losses. Garnett, who recorded eight strikeouts on the day, falls to 8-6 on the season.

After mowing down the first 14 batters she faced in game one, Garnett gave up a two-out single to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The 16th batter Garnett faced would prove to be lethal as she drove Garnett's pitch over the leftfield fence to give Lewis the 2-0 lead that would eventually turn into a 2-0 victory.

USI could not get much done offensively, but a lead off single in the top of the seventh inning, by sophomore first baseman Monica Tepe (Granger, Indiana), brought the Eagles' tying run to the plate. However, a sacrifice bunt and a couple of shots to second base put an end to USI's scoring chances and its victory chances in game one.

In game two, Garnett's troubles started, once again, in the fifth inning. After allowing just two batters to reach base in the first four innings of work, Garnett gave up a one-out walk and a single to leftfield.

The two runners came across the plate, scoring the only runs of the game, when Lewis's leadoff hitter Amy Roberts singled to leftfield with two outs.

Once again, USI threatened in the top of the seventh inning, this time putting the tying run on first base. However, Lewis's Mary Jaszczak closed the deal for the Flyers, who improved to 14-12 overall and 5-3 in the GLVC.

USI will attempt to rebound as it travels to Edwardsville, Illinois this Wednesday, April 3, to take on fourth-ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in a 4 p.m. doubleheader. The Eagles will return home Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7, as they take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy University. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts at the USI Softball Field.