Southern Indiana (12-18, 9-7 GLVC): 11, 12
at Saint Joseph's (18-13, 7-7 GLVC): 12, 3
Game 1 Box Score (8 innings) | Game 2 Box Score (5 innings)
RENSSELAER, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team scored a combined 23 runs and racked up 32 hits as it split a GLVC doubleheader with host Saint Joseph's College Saturday afternoon. The Screaming Eagles dropped the first game, 12-11 in eight innings, before winning the second game, 12-3 in five innings.
Freshman rightfielder Katherine Belsito was 3-for-4 in the second game with a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored to pace the Eagles offensively from the leadoff spot. Belsito opened the game with a base hit before coming around to score the contest's first run on a Sara Loete single.
USI (12-18, 9-7 GLVC) scored twice in the first inning before exploding for 10 runs in the second inning to build a commanding 12-0 lead. Belsito, who was 3-of-4 with a double and an RBI in game one, had a single and a three-run double in the second frame to aid USI's offensive outburst.
Senior catcher Tara McConnell had a pair of run-scoring doubles in the second inning, including a two-run double in her first trip to the plate. McConnell went a combined 4-of-7 on the day with three doubles and three runs scored.
Junior first baseman Brittany DeWeese also had a pair of RBIs on a single in the second inning, while junior centerfielder Reva LeDune-Bourgasser and senior leftfielder Lindsay Raikes each had RBI-singles.
Freshman pitcher Stephanie Bittner picked up the win after giving up three runs off four hits in five innings of work. She improves to 2-1 on the season.
In game one, USI overcame deficits of 3-1 and 8-5 to send the contest into extra innings. The Eagles scored three times in the eighth frame to take an 11-8 advantage, but the Pumas scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning to pick up the victory.
Six different players recorded RBIs for the Eagles, who had 17 hits in the loss. Loete went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while junior second baseman Amanda Brendel was 2-of-3 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs.
Belsito and DeWeese also had an RBI in the loss as did junior shortstop Dani Finkelstein and junior leftfielder Heather Swarts. Finkelstein was 3-of-5 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.
Sophomore hurler Hadley Clark was charged with the loss after giving up 12 runs, 11 earned, off 12 hits in 7.1 innings of work. Clark falls to 5-10 with the setback.
The Eagles conclude the weekend Sunday at noon when they travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in a GLVC doubleheader.
