EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana softball freshman third baseman
Kristin Eickholt (Van Wert, Ohio) hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift the Screaming Eagles to a 5-3 victory in game two of a twinbill Saturday at the USI Softball Field. The Eagles fell in the first game, 2-1, in sixteen innings.
USI (22-13, 5-5 GLVC) broke a scoreless streak of 16 innings when junior first baseman
Angie Davis (Greenwood, Indiana) hit a run-scoring single into right field. The single pushed across sophomore second baseman
Kerrie Burton (Kokomo, Indiana), who hit a one-out double, and cut the Riverwomen's lead to 2-1.
After falling behind 3-1 in the top of the fifth, the Eagles cut the UMSL lead back to one when senior centerfielder
Sunny Oelling (Valparaiso, Indiana) scored on a throwing error by UMSL pitcher Emily Wagoner.
With runners at second and third and just one out, Eickholt blasted the ball five feet over the left-centerfield wall to give USI its first lead of the game at 5-3.
Junior
Missy Grover (Mishawaka, Indiana), who came on in relief during the second game after earning a no-decision in game one, held the Riverwomen at bay, allowing the Eagles to break the three-game skid. Grover's record improved to 12-6 as she allowed just one base-runner in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Grover was strong in game one, allowing just one unearned run in seven innings of action. She scattered seven hits and struck out five batters before giving way to fellow classmate
Lindsey McNaughton (Carmel, Indiana) in the top of the eighth inning.
McNaughton (8-6) pitched nine strong innings in relief, but gave up a run in the top of the 16th inning as she was charged with the loss.
The Eagles struck first in game one when sophomore catcher
Lisa Anderson (Chesterton, Indiana) lined an RBI double to straight-away centerfield, scoring Oelling from second base. Anderson was 4-for-7 in game one, while Oelling was 3-for-8 in the first game, setting a school-record for at-bats in a game, and 3-for-4 in the second game.
UMSL (11-17, 2-6 GLVC) tied the game in the top of the sixth inning and got 16 great innings out of freshman Jessica Coffey as it took the first game. Coffey scattered 11 hits and struck out eight batters to earn the complete-game victory.
USI returns to action Sunday when it hosts Quincy University in a noon doubleheader.
