EVANSVILLE, Ind.--- Despite picking up a sweep in its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener yesterday afternoon, the University of Southern Indiana softball team could not keep the momentum rolling into its two-game meeting with Rockhurst University, falling 7-3 in game one before a 6-0 shutout in game two.
The Screaming Eagles fall to 15-3 overall, 2-2 in conference play and will look to return to the winning circle Saturday and Sunday against Drury University and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Sophomore
Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) registered an RBI-single in the second inning followed by two-run homer in the fourth to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth.
USI struggled to hold on to its lead, however as the Hawks answered back with a single-run homer in the fifth followed by an RBI-double to tie the game up in the top of the seventh.
After going into extra innings, the Hawks would prevail scoring four runs in the top of the ninth for the 7-3 win.
Rockhurst dominated in the nightcap, scoring runs in four of the seven innings played for a 6-0 win over USI.
Senior
Brooke Harmening (Whiteland, Indiana) was tabbed with her first loss of the season for a 10-1 record in game one, while both wins went to Rockhurst's Bridgette Sappington, who improved to 5-3 on the season.
Circle time during the nightcap was shared between freshman
McKenzi Jordan (Crawfordsville, Indiana) and junior
Devon Rutherford (Newburgh, Indiana) with the loss given to Jordan as the Eagles were down 5-0 when Rutherford came in during the middle of the sixth inning.
USI struggled offensively in its doubleheader loss, with its first three batters of the lineup going 1-for-20. As a team, the Eagles tallied 10 hits, while the Hawks came away with 22.
