Indiana-Pennsylvania (2-1): 7, Southern Indiana (5-5): 2
-Box Score

Southern Indiana: 12, Ferris State (0-1): 11
-Box Score (8 innings)

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team rallied from a 7-2 deficit to defeat Midwest Region foe Ferris State University, 12-11, in eight innings Saturday to complete its opening day of the Division II Rebel Spring Games.

USI (5-5), which jumped out to a 2-0 lead after taking advantage of a pair of Ferris State errors in the top of the third inning, found itself trailing 7-2 after the Bulldogs ripped the Screaming Eagles for seven runs in the bottom of the third frame.

The Eagles, however, sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth inning as they took advantage of two more Ferris State errors to plate five runs and tie the contest at 7-7. Senior shortstop Dani Finkelstein and senior third baseman LeAnn Collins each had RBI-singles in the inning as USI came storming back.

USI continued its offensive outburst in the fifth inning as the Eagles scored four more times to take an 11-7 lead. Collins had an RBI-single in the fifth inning, while sophomore pitcher/infielder Stephanie Bittner had a two-run single as the Eagles claimed a four-run advantage.

After seeing the Bulldogs (0-1) score twice in the sixth inning and two more times in the seventh to tie the score at 11-11, the Eagles got a one-out, pinch-hit double from junior designated player Kristen O'Haver in the top of the eighth inning to plate the go-ahead run and stake USI to a 12-11 advantage.

With no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Finkelstein turned a hard line drive by Ferris State's Lynsay Weaver into a double-play to pick up the first two outs of the frame. Bittner, who picked up the save after entering the pitching circle in the bottom of the eighth, struck out the next batter to preserve the 12-11 victory.

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Jankowski was credited with the win after giving up five runs, three earned, off eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. She improved to 2-1 with the victory.

Earlier in the day, the Eagles suffered a tough 7-2 loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Hawks used a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to build a 3-0 advantage; then answered a two-run sixth inning by the Eagles with a grand slam in the top of the seventh frame to go up by five runs.

O'Haver had a two-run single in the Eagles' sixth inning to put USI on the scoreboard and cut its deficit to 3-2. Bittner (2-2) was charged with the loss after giving up all seven runs, six earned, off eight hits and five walks.

USI returns to action Sunday when it takes on Southwest Minnesota State University at 8 a.m. (CST) and Holy Family University at noon (CST). Live stats and audio can be accessed at gousieagles.com.