The University of Southern Indiana softball team will open its 2004 home schedule with a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, March 6, against Purdue University-North Central. The Screaming Eagles have won 11 straight and 29 of their last 30 games at the USI Softball Field.

USI (1-4) is in need of some momentum before it travels south for spring break. The Eagles got off to a rough start against some of the nation's top teams.

Freshman catcher Lisa Anderson (Chesterton, Indiana) and senior second baseman Brooke Biggs (Osceola, Indiana) have led the Eagles offensively in their first five games of 2004. Anderson is hitting .571 in seven at-bats in her first season of collegiate softball, while Biggs has recorded a .500 batting average.

Biggs and senior catcher Kristen Houseworth (Martinsville, Indiana) lead the Eagles with a pair of RBIs each, while senior pitcher/utility player Shannon Emmons (Boonville, Indiana) has the team's lone home run.

Emmons (1-2) also recorded a 2-1 decision over Lenoir-Rhyne College after giving up a run off eight hits.

One thing that hurt the Eagles last weekend was errors. USI committed 10 errors and recorded a .938 fielding percentage after finishing 2003 with a .970 fielding percentage.

The Eagles also will be looking to improve their hitting. As a team, the Eagles are hitting just .210 in their first five games.

PNC (0-0) will play Oakland City University today before traveling to Evansville to play the Eagles.

USI will travel to Georgia and Florida next weekend. The Eagles will play doubleheaders at Augusta State University, #17 Georgia College and State University, and Valdosta State University, before competing in the Florida Southern College Tournament March 12-14.