2011 Media Guide

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team opens its 2011 season Friday when it takes on Lambuth University at 2:30 p.m. and the University of North Alabama at 4:30 p.m. at the UAH Charger Chillout in Decatur, Alabama.

In addition to Friday's games, the Screaming Eagles also play Midwest Region foe Ohio Dominican University and Georgia College & State University Saturday at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m., respectively. USI closes its opening weekend Sunday with games against Truman State University (9 a.m.) and the University of West Georgia (11 a.m.).

USI is counting on a deep and talented pitching staff as well as a competitive roster that features 21 players to lead it back to the top of the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings this season.

Meshing 11 returning players with 10 newcomers will be a big challenge for 10th-year Head Coach Sue Kunkle, who is the program's all-time winningest coach with a 252-204-1 (.553) record.

Although the Screaming Eagles return seven position starters, including their entire infield and outfield, Kunkle believes the depth of her roster will provide plenty of competition at several positions.

Seven seniors, including All-GLVC first baseman Brittany DeWeese and All-GLVC second baseman Amanda Brendel will lead the Eagles.

DeWeese, a second-team All-GLVC performer in 2010, led the Eagles in batting average (.353), hits (49), doubles (11), home runs (7), and RBIs (36) last season. She ranks fourth all-time at USI in home runs (17) and is eighth all-time at USI in RBIs (88).

A second-team All-GLVC honoree in 2009, Brendel battled through injury a year ago to post a .229 batting average with five home runs, 18 RBIs, and seven doubles.

Senior third baseman LeAnn Collins and senior shortstop Dani Finkelstein round out the Eagles' returning starters in the infield, while senior outfielders Reva LeDune-Bourgasser and Heather Swarts formed two-thirds of the Eagles' starters in the outfield in 2010.

Collins earned second-team All-GLVC honors a year ago after hitting .318 with nine doubles, five home runs, and 24 RBIs. Finkelstein, who hit .246 with three home runs and 10 RBIs a year ago, solidified USI's middle infield a year ago with a .953 fielding percentage in 41 games.

LeDune-Bourgasser also earned second-team All-GLVC honors in 2010 after hitting .308 with six home runs and 25 RBIs. Swarts started 29 games in the outfield last season—most coming in leftfield—and had a home run and four RBIs.

Senior utility player Dani Monks, who has played a majority of the last two seasons in the outfield, will compete for the Eagles' starting catcher duties after spending the fall season behind the plate.

USI's lone junior this season is third baseman/pitcher Kristen O'Haver, who could also serve as the Eagles' designated player.

O'Haver played in 21 games during her sophomore season, hitting .267 with a home run and seven RBIs in 30 at-bats. She also appeared in the pitching circle five times, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.68 ERA.

Rounding out the Eagles' returning players are a trio of sophomores—outfielder Katherine Belsito, pitcher/infielder Stephanie Bittner, and outfielder Jessica McCullough.

Belsito earned third-team All-GLVC honors as a freshman last season after hitting .293 with six doubles and 10 RBIs as USI's lead-off hitter.

Bittner became the Eagles' go-to player in the pitching circle during her freshman season, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.38 ERA and a save after entering USI's starting rotation in April.

McCullough, who saw limited action in her first year of collegiate softball, is expected to compete for a starting job in 2011.

USI's list of newcomers includes three transfers and seven freshmen. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Brittany Ashton and sophomore right-handed pitcher/infielder Brandy Wright will compete for time inside the circle, while sophomore catcher/ utility player Kati O'Reilly will challenge for a spot behind the plate.

Ashton transferred from John A. Logan College where she went 13-2 with a 1.55 ERA in 2010. Wright, who sat out the 2010 season, went 4-2 with a 1.28 ERA as a freshman in 2009 at Lakeland College, while O'Reilly hit .346 with 28 RBIs during her freshman season at Heartland Community College.

USI's freshman class includes pitcher Madeline Brink, utility player Kyla Gogel, catcher Lauren Hatfield, pitcher/utility player Kelsey Jankowski, utility player Lindsay Kivett, outfielder Teri Newmaster, and utility player Alison Nord.

Brink graduated from Castle High School where she was a first-team All-State performer after posting a 23-2 record in the circle as a senior. Gogel, who will compete for time in the middle infield, earned second-team All-State honors as a senior at Heritage Hills High School.

Hatfield hit .317 with 21 RBIs as a senior at Martinsville High School and is expected to see time behind the plate in 2011. Jankowski will see time in the circle and at first base during her freshman season after hitting .467 as a senior at Hanover Central High School.

Kivett, who graduated from Plainfield High School, will see time in the middle infield during her freshman season. Nord also will see time in the infield, while Newmaster will compete for time in the outfield.

Both Newmaster and Nord graduated from Tecumseh High School where they won a state championship in 2009. Newmaster earned second-team All-State honors as a senior in 2010, while Nord hit .364 as a junior in 2009.