DAHLONEGA, Ga.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team bounced back from a 6-5, extra-inning loss to host North Georgia College & State University to defeat Lander University, 3-2, in its second game of the X-Trem Graphics Classic Friday.

Freshman catcher Tara McConnell (Henderson, Kentucky) went 2-for-3 from the plate with a home run, a run scored, and two RBIs in USI's victory over Lander. McConnell drove in the game-winning run in the in the top of the fifth inning.

Sophomore shortstop Ally McKinley (Sullivan, Indiana) was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in the loss to North Georgia, while senior catcher Lisa Anderson (Chesterton, Indiana) had a hit and an RBI in both games.

Against North Georgia, the Screaming Eagles (20-18) had a 2-0 advantage and a 5-2 lead, but saw the Saints score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the contest to extra frames. The Saints took advantage of the international tie-breaker rule as well as a wild pitch to plate the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

McKinley's three-run homer gave the Eagles the 5-2 lead in the top of the seventh. Anderson and McKinley each had RBI singles in the irst inning to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

McConnell started the scoring in the second inning against Lander when she hit her first-career home run over the leftfield fence.

After a two-run home run gave Lander a 2-1 advantage in the fourth inning, Anderson came through with an RBI single to tie the contest at two. McConnell followed with a run scoring single to give Eagles the 3-2 advantage they would not relinquish.

Junior hurler Amy Harrison (Graceville, Florida) picked up the complete-game victory against Lander after giving up two runs off six hits in seven innings of work. Harrison (11-8) was charged with the loss against North Georgia after giving up two unearned runs off a hit in one-and-a-third innings of work.

Harrison came on in relief in the seventh inning for starting hurler Kristin Eickholt (Van Wert, Ohio), who gave up four runs, three earned, off 11 hits in six innings inside the pitching circle.

USI returns to action Saturday when it takes on the University of South Carolina-Aiken and Lander. Due to the threat of poor weather Saturday afternoon, the game times have been moved to 8 a.m. (CDT) and noon, respectively.