at Southern Indiana (14-22, 11-11 GLVC): 12, 0
Illinois-Springfield (10-28, 4-20 GLVC): 2, 4
Game 1 Box Score (5 innings) | Game 2 Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team was forced to settle for a doubleheader split with the visiting University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars Sunday afternoon at the USI Softball Field. The Screaming Eagles jumped out to a 10-0 lead en route to a 12-2, five-inning victory in game one, but dropped the nightcap, 4-0.
USI (14-22, 11-11 GLVC) took advantage of an error in the bottom of the first inning of game one to plate a couple runs and build a 2-0 advantage.
An RBI-single by senior catcher Tara McConnell in the second inning kick-started a four-run frame for the Eagles. Junior third baseman LeAnn Collins, who was 2-for-2 with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBIs, followed McConnell's single with a run-scoring base hit to put USI up 4-0.
The Eagles extended their advantage to 6-0 on an RBI-double by junior first baseman Brittany DeWeese.
After taking advantage of another Prairie Star error to score its seventh run, USI got a three-run bomb off the bat of Collins in the third inning to complete another four-run frame for the Eagles. Junior shortstop Dani Finkelstein, who was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, had a two-run shot in the fourth inning as the Eagles cruised to the 10-run victory.
Freshman pitcher Stephanie Bittner picked up the win after giving up two runs off three hits in five innings of work. Bittner (4-2) struck out seven batters en route to her fourth win in her last five starts.
Game two was a completely different story for the Eagles, however, as they were handed a tough blow in their quest for a GLVC Tournament berth.
The Eagles committed four errors in game two and the Prairie Stars, who had just two hits in the contest, took advantage of five walks to plate four runs in the second and third innings. Offensively, the Eagles had five hits, but left eight runners on base, including four in scoring position.
Sophomore pitcher Hadley Clark fell to 5-13 with the decision despite a solid outing. Clark, who allowed only two earned runs, struck out seven batters as she lost her fourth consecutive start.
USI, which is still in the thick of things in the GLVC Tournament picture, returns to action Tuesday when it takes on Kentucky Wesleyan College in a 2 p.m. conference twinbill in Owensboro, Kentucky.
