Sunday did not start off well for the University of Southern Indiana softball team as it fell to the University of Findlay, 6-2, in its third game of the GLVC/GLIAC Showdown in Battle Creek, Michigan. However, the day ended well as the Screaming Eagles had an offensive explosion to post a 10-0 win over Lake Superior State University and a 4-0 win over Northwood University.
After falling behind 5-0 in their loss to Findlay, the Eagles got on the scoreboard when senior centerfielder
Rachel Bowling (Middletown, Indiana) connected on a two-run blast in the top of the fifth inning. USI, which had just four hits in the contest, gave up a run in the bottom of the first inning and four runs in the bottom of the third inning as it lost for the sixth time in seven contests.
The Eagles (14-16) bounced back quickly to record 10 hits, including a home run and three doubles, in their win over Lake Superior State. Freshman pitcher
Missy Grover (Mishawaka, Indiana) gave up just one hit as the Eagles won the contest in five innings due to the eight-run rule.
Grover (5-4) picked up the victory and was just one strike away from a no-hitter. She allowed just two base runners.
USI pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of a fielding error and a throwing error to top Northwood 4-0 in its final game of the weekend. The Eagles sent four runners across the plate in the bottom of the fourth to provide junior hurler
Shannon Emmons (Boonville, Indiana) with all the offense she needed.
Emmons (8-12) was charged with the loss to Findlay after giving up six runs, four earned, off nine hits. She bounced back from the setback by allowing just four hits in seven innings of work to pick up the victory over Northwood.
For the day, Bowling led the Eagle offensive. USI's all-time homerun leader went 6-of-9 from the plate with a home run, five RBIs, and four runs scored.
USI, which finished the GLVC/GLIAC Showdown with a 3-2 record, will return to conference action this Tuesday, April 15, when it takes on Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 3 p.m.