SOMERS, Wis.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five times in the top of the fourth inning to defeat the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 5-1, in the second game of a GLVC doubleheader Sunday afternoon. The win salvaged a split on a cold day after the Screaming Eagles fell to the Rangers, 8-2, in the first game.
USI (26-16, 11-5 GLVC) racked up five hits and took advantage of a walk and an error to plate its five runs in the fourth inning of game two.
Senior third baseman
Kristin Eickholt (Van Wert, Ohio) started the inning with a lead-off home run to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles tacked on another run a few batters later when sophomore catcher
Tara McConnell (Henderson, Kentucky) doubled to drive in freshman first baseman
Brittany DeWeese (Evansville, Indiana), who reached on a one-out double.
Freshman second baseman
Dani Finkelstein (Windsor, Colorado) put the Eagles up 4-0 with a two-run single, while senior leftfielder
Kathy Wood (Lynnville, Indiana) finished the scoring with an RBI later in the frame.
Junior pitcher
Stephanie Schneider (Birdseye, Indiana) was sharp, allowing just one run off four hits. Schneider (8-3) struck out five batters while allowing three walks to pick up the complete-game victory.
In game one, UW-Parkside (19-12, 6-6 GLVC) plated a pair of runs in both the first and third innings to take a 4-0 lead. The Rangers took a 5-0 lead with a run in the fifth inning before the Eagles could answer with two runs in the sixth inning.
Junior rightfielder
Lacey Ligmanowski (Homer Glen, Illinois) had a one-out single in the top sixth inning, then scored later in the frame on a passed ball. Sophomore designated player
Sara Loete (Pekin, Illinois) drove in USI's second run of the inning, adding to her league-lead with her 48th RBI of the year.
Hurler
Amy Harrison (Graceville, Florida) took the loss for the Eagles after giving up four runs, all earned, in 2 1/3 innings of action. Harrison (12-9) struck out four batters but four walks and five hits plagued the senior as she suffered her first loss in two weeks.
The Eagles, who are currently a half-game out of second place in the GLVC standings, return to action Monday at noon when they to travel Romeoville, Illinois, to take on No. 15 Lewis University in a GLVC doubleheader. USI returns home Tuesday to take on Oakland City University in a 5 p.m. doubleheader at the USI Softball Field
