CARROLLTON, Ga.—The No. 23-ranked University of Southern Indiana softball team went 0-2 to start the 2007 season as it lost to the University of West Georgia, 8-1, and to No. 15-ranked Columbus State University, 9-1, in six innings Friday.
USI (0-2) returns to action Saturday when it takes on the University of West Alabama at 8 a.m. (CST). The Screaming Eagles also play Delta State University at 10 a.m. and the University of North Alabama at 4 p.m.
at University of West Georgia 8, #23 Southern Indiana 1
West Georgia scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning and tacked on four more in the sixth en route to the 8-1 victory over the Eagles.
USI struggled offensively as they collected just four hits. Senior catcher
Lisa Anderson (Chesterton, Indiana) went 2-for-3 with a home run in her first at bat since the 2005 season. Senior outfielder
Nikki Nichols (Henderson, Kentucky) had a double in the loss, while junior infielder/outfielder
Kirsten Morgan (Oakland City, Indiana) recorded a single in her only at-bat.
Defensively, the Eagles struggled as they recorded three errors, two of which led to five unearned runs.
Junior pitcher/outfielder
Kathy Wood (Lynnville, Indiana) took the loss after giving up two runs, one earned, off four hits in two and a third innings pitched.
#15 Columbus State University 9, #23 Southern Indiana 1 (6 innings)
Columbus State took advantage of three errors in the bottom of the fifth inning to plate five runs, all with two outs, and take a commanding 6-1 lead. The Cougars tacked on three more unearned runs in the sixth to run away with the 9-1 victory.
USI grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when junior third baseman
Kristin Eickholt (Van Wert, Ohio) hit a two-out solo home run. Eickholt was 2-for-2 in the game, while Anderson was 2-for-3 with a double. Sophomore shortstop
Ally McKinley (Sullivan, Indiana) also had a hit for the Eagles.
Junior hurler
Amy Harrison (Graceville, Florida) was charged with the loss after giving up six unearned runs off five hits in four and two-thirds innings.