EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Senior shortstop
Ally McKinley (Sullivan, Indiana) hit a two-out solo home run over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the third inning to give sophomore pitcher
Dawn McClellan (Valparaiso, Indiana) all the run support she would need as the University of Southern Indiana softball team split a doubleheader with Brescia University in the Screaming Eagles' home opener Wednesday at the USI Softball Field.
McClellan (2-7) scattered five hits throughout seven innings to pick up her second complete-game shutout in her last three starts and lead the Eagles to a 1-0 victory in the nightcap of a two-game set.
Brescia's Emily Gersteisen (4-2) was charged with the setback after surrendering the home run to McKinley. She gave up seven hits and issued one walk in the loss.
Earlier in the day, USI (8-18) scored five times in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut a six-run deficit to a single tally heading into the final two innings of game one. Gerteisen, however, allowed just one base runner in the final two frames to preserve the 7-6 victory for the Bearcats.
Sophomore outfielder
Heather Swarts (Gas City, Indiana) hit a solo home run to lead the fifth inning off for the Eagles, while senior rightfielder
Lacey Ligmanowski (Homer Glen, Illinois) had a two-run single. Sophomore first baseman
Brittany DeWeese (Evansville, Indiana) and junior designated player
Sara Loete (Pekin, Illinois) each had RBI hits for USI in the fifth frame.
The Bearcats (6-8) opened the game with a two-run homer by catcher Brittani Sanders in the top of the first inning. Brescia scored two more runs to take a 4-1 lead in the third inning; then extended its advantage to six runs with a three spot in the fourth frame.
Senior pitcher
Stephanie Schneider (Birdseye, Indiana) took the loss for the Eagles after giving up four runs off four hits in 2.2 innings of action. Schneider falls to 3-9 with the decision.
Brescia's Courtney McHolan (2-4) picked up the win despite giving up four runs, three earned, off five hits in 4.2 innings of work.
USI opens GLVC play Saturday when it visits the University of Missouri-St. Louis for a noon doubleheader. The Screaming Eagles close their first conference weekend with a trip to Rolla, Missouri, for a noon doubleheader with Missouri University of Science and Technology.