EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.—The No. 24-ranked University of Southern Indiana softball team fell behind early and could not catch up as it lost to No. 4-ranked and tournament host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 9-0 in five innings, Sunday afternoon.

USI ends its season with a 39-18 record, its best mark since 1998 when it was 48-17. The Screaming Eagles also finished third in the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Tournament.

Sophomore third baseman Kristin Eickholt (Van Wert, Ohio) led the Eagles from the plate. She was 2-for-2 with her team-leading 21st double of the season.

SIU Edwardsville (50-9), which defeated Northern Kentucky University, 8-0 in six innings, later in the day, got an outstanding effort out of GLVC Player of the Year Alicia DeShasier. She was 2-for-2 with a triple, a double, three runs scored, and four RBIs.

Senior hurler Lindsey McNaughton (Carmel, Illinois) took the loss for the Eagles. McNaughton (17-11) gave up six runs on five hits in just 1 2/3 innings of work.

The Cougars' Sabra McCune picked up her single-season school-record 31st victory of the season. McCune (31-7) gave up five hits and struck out six batters.

SIUE and NKU play Monday at 1 p.m. for the NCAA II Great Lakes Regional Championship.