EAST PEORIA, Ill.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally past Saint Joseph's College, 6-5, in the elimination bracket of the GLVC Tournament Friday evening.
USI (30-23-1), which reaches the 30-win plateau for the third straight season and the ninth time in the last 11 years, trailed 3-0 after the Pumas scored three unearned runs in the top of the first inning.
Sophomore rightfielder
Lacey Ligmanowski (Homer Glen, Illinois), who was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and four RBIs in USI's 13-8, opening-round loss to Quincy University, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first to cut into the SJC lead.
The Screaming Eagles cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third inning when sophomore shortstop
Ally McKinley (Sullivan, Indiana) doubled down the leftfield line to drive in senior second baseman
Audra Lindenschmidt (Evansville, Indiana). McKinley was 2-for-4 in the game with a pair of doubles, bringing her team-leading total to 18 on the season.
After a solo home run gave the Pumas (26-24) a 4-2 advantage, junior leftfielder
Kathy Wood (Lynnville, Indiana) drew the Eagles back to within a run on a fielder's choice.
In the sixth inning, USI racked up five hits and took advantage of a SJC error to bring home three runs and take a 6-4 advantage heading into the seventh inning. Junior third baseman/pitcher
Kristin Eickholt (Van Wert, Ohio) and Lindenschmidt each had RBI singles in the inning.
Eickholt (9-6) picked up the win after giving up five runs, two earned, off six hits in six innings of action. She also recorded five strike outs before giving way to junior pitcher
Amy Harrison (Graceville, Florida) in the seventh inning.
Harrison picked up her team-leading second save of the year after recording two strike outs and retiring all three batters she faced in the seventh frame.
USI faces the loser of the game between the sixth seed, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and the second seed, No. 13 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville later tonight. If the contest cannot be started prior to 10 p.m. (CDT), the contest will be moved to Saturday with a possible 11 a.m. start time.
