at Southern Indiana (18-33, 8-15 GLVC): 2, Indianapolis (28-16, 17-7 GLVC): 0
-Game 1 Box Score

at Southern Indiana: 5, Indianapolis: 1
-Game 2 Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team swept the University of Indianapolis, 2-0 and 5-1, Sunday to end the 2009 campaign on a strong note.

USI (18-33, 8-15 GLVC) used a solo home run off the bat of sophomore second baseman Amanda Brendel (Salem, Illinois) and a run-scoring double off the bat of sophomore third baseman Dani Finkelstein (Windsor, Colorado) to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one.

The two runs ended up being more than enough for freshman pitcher Hadley Clark (Owensboro, Kentucky), who fanned a season-high eight batters. Clark (5-8) picked up the win as she blanked the GLVC's most prolific run-scoring team, giving up just six hits and three walks.

In game two, the Greyhounds (28-16, 17-7 GLVC) struck first with a run in the top half of the first inning to grab a quick 1-0 lead. USI, however, answered by sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five times in the last part of the first frame to forge a commanding 5-1 advantage.

The Eagles started the inning with back-to-back singles; then took advantage of an error on a sacrifice bunt play to score the first run. A walk, followed by three straight singles put the Eagles up by four runs before the first out of the inning was recorded.

Sophomore first baseman Brittany DeWeese (Evansville, Indiana) and sophomore pitcher Dawn McClellan (Valparaiso, Indiana) each had RBI-singles, while junior designated player Sara Loete (Pekin, Illinois) had a two-run single into the left-centerfield gap.

McClellan (8-13) settled down after giving up the run in the first inning and dominated the potent Greyhounds' lineup throughout the final six innings. McClellan allowed just one hit and six base-runners the rest of the game as she picked up her third win of the week.

Following the games, USI honored its three seniors—rightfielder Lacey Ligmanowski (Homer Glen, Illinois), shortstop Ally McKinley (Sullivan, Indiana), and pitcher Stephanie Schneider (Birdseye, Indiana)—as part of its Senior Day and Varsity Club Day festivities. Ligmanowski and McKinley each had a hit and scored a run in their final game in a USI uniform.

USI ends what has been a frustrating season on a high note as it won three straight games and nine of its final 12 contests to build momentum for what promises to be a strong 2010 season. The Eagles, who lost 13 games by one run this year, are slated to return all but three players from their 2009 roster, including its top three RBI-producers in DeWeese, Brendel, and Loete, as well as Clark and McClellan inside the pitching circle.