EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team begins what is literally its longest road trip of the season Saturday when it opens the Division II Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Screaming Eagles, who depart from USI's campus Thursday, will be on the road for 11 days as they spend the first half of their spring break trip playing eight games at the Rebel Spring Games. They will conclude their trip March 12-13 when they open Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Maryville University and Missouri University of Science & Technology.

USI (4-4), which begins the Rebel Spring Games Saturday at 8 a.m. (CST) against Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has been on a tear offensively throughout its first eight games. The Eagles are hitting .328 as a team and have been aggressive on the base paths, swiping 18 bases in 19 attempts.

Led by sophomore pitcher/infielder Stephanie Bittner, the reigning GLVC Player of the Week, the Eagles are averaging 5.8 runs per game and have won three of their four victories via the eight-run rule.

Bittner, who is hitting .400 with two home runs and a team-best six RBIs, is one of eight every day starters to have at least a .300 batting average. She also leads the team with two wins inside the pitching circle.

In addition to Indiana-Pennsylvania, the Eagles play Midwest Region foe Ferris State University at 10 a.m. Saturday to conclude their opening day at the Rebel Spring Games. USI also plays two games on Sunday and two more on Monday before concluding the Rebel Spring Games with two games on March 9.