WHEELING, W.V.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team defeated West Liberty State College, 5-2, Saturday evening at the Great Lakes Regional Shootout. The Screaming Eagles lost its first game, 4-2, to Gannon University.

USI (15-12) recorded a combined 18 hits on the day, but had trouble getting runners across the plate in the loss to Gannon. USI stranded nine runners on the base paths in the loss.

The Eagles finish Great Lakes Regional Shootout Sunday against Wheeling Jesuit University and West Virginia Wesleyan College. Game times are 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively.

Gannon (16-8) 4, Southern Indiana 2
The Eagles pounded out nine hits, but stranded nine runners on the base paths as Gannon picked up the 4-2 victory.

USI jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior first baseman Jennifer Mullikin (Greenwood, Indiana) singled to drive in senior catcher Angie Davis (Greenwood, Indiana). Mullikin was 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

Gannon, however, used a double and a triple on consecutive pitches to score three times in the top of the fifth inning and take a commanding 3-1 advantage. The Knights tacked on another run in the top of the seventh to expand their lead to three runs.

The Eagles came back with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but could not get any closer as Gannon extending USI's losing streak to three games. Junior second baseman Audra Lindenschmidt (Evansville, Indiana) picked up the RBI in the seventh with a two-out single to centerfield.

Senior hurler Lindsey McNaughton (Carmel, Indiana) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, off five hits. McNaughton (6-7) had four strikeouts and two walks in the loss.

Southern Indiana 5, West Liberty State (16-20) 2
Freshman outfielder Ally McKinley (Sullivan, Indiana) hit a two-out, RBI triple in the top of the second inning and senior shortstop Krista Nugent (Hurricane, Utah) followed with a double to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Lindenschmidt capped off a two-run fourth inning for the Eagles with an RBI single, and junior second baseman Kerrie Burton (Kokomo, Indiana) put USI up 5-0 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning.

Senior pitcher Missy Grover (Mishawaka, Indiana) picked up her team-high ninth victory of the year. Grover (9-5) gave up two late runs—only one was earned—off eight hits in seven innings of work. She struck out three batters, while recording just one walk as the Eagles bested West Liberty State, 5-2.