EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana softball team returns to action this weekend as it squares off against defending Midwest Region champion Saint Joseph's College Saturday and top-ranked University of Indianapolis Sunday.
Both Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheaders are scheduled for noon start times at the USI Softball Field, while Sunday's twinbill is USI's NFCA Strikeout Cancer day. The Screaming Eagles will wear their pink uniforms Sunday in an effort to raise cancer awareness.
With less than a month left in the regular season, the Eagles find themselves in the midst of a season-high five-game winning streak that has propelled them into the top five of the GLVC standings and has them thinking about an NCAA II Tournament berth.
The Eagles (18-9, 8-6 GLVC) are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan College that saw them hit four home runs on the day. Junior
Kelsey Jankowski hit two home runs in the Eagles' 4-3 win in the opener, while fellow classmate
Kyla Gogel had a three-run shot in the nightcap.
Sophomore
Brooke Harmening, who had a solo home run in the opener and a two-run single in the second game, earned the win in both contests.
Harmening, who recorded her 30th career win in the pitcher's circle Tuesday, leads USI and is among the league leaders in wins (14-3), ERA (1.15), and opponent batting average (.170). She also is among the GLVC's best in batting average (.379), doubles (8), home runs (7), and RBIs (30).
Saint Joseph's (13-8, 5-8 GLVC), which visits Calumet College of Saint Joseph's Wednesday, has dropped three straight decisions, including a pair of setbacks Tuesday against Indianapolis.
The Pumas are led by junior Kylie Weeks, who is hitting .484, and freshman Kalene Davis, who had four home runs and 21 RBIs. Senior pitcher Sarah Franklin is 5-4 with a 1.87 ERA and .275 opponent batting average.
Indianapolis (30-2, 12-0 GLVC), which visits Kentucky Wesleyan College for a doubleheader Saturday, has won 23 consecutive games. Senior Jennifer DeMotte, sophomore Casey Williamson, and freshman Morgan Foley pace a loaded Greyhounds lineup that has a .348 team batting average and a 0.88 team ERA.
Williamson is hitting .490 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs, while DeMotte is 14-0 with a .076 ERA and is hitting .349 with four home runs and 26 RBIs. Foley, the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week two weeks ago, is 16-2 with a 0.94 ERA, a .124 opponent batting average, and 179 strikeouts.
USI will play Indianapolis, the defending GLVC champions, four straight games. The Eagles visit the Greyhounds April 13 and Saint Joseph's April 14.
