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EVANSVILLE, Ind.--- Following a three-week road trip, the 16^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana softball team is set to open its 10-game home slate with doubleheaders slated for Noon and 2 p.m. versus University of Wisconsin Parkside Saturday followed by Lewis University Sunday on its 'Play for Awareness' Day.
 
The Screaming Eagles, along with their staff, will be wearing t-shirts honoring someone in their extended family who is currently battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to Lou Gehrig's disease.
 
"Every player will be playing for someone they love who has been affected by a life-threatening disease or disorder," Head Coach Sue Kunkle said, "along with our game shirts, each player will be wearing and bows representing that cause.
 
"Head Coach Becky Pearl and the rest of the Lewis team will be sporting purple jerseys on Sunday, the awareness color of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. We would love it for our fans to join in and wear a color to honor someone they love, too," Kunkle said.
 
Eagles falls to No. 16 in latest NFCA Poll
After a dropping two games to then-ranked No. 11 University of Indianapolis last weekend, followed by a dominating sweep over Saint Joseph's College, the Eagles dropped one spot to No. 16 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Division II Top 25 Poll.
 
Indianapolis (27-7, 14-2) moved up to No. 10 while Great Lakes Valley Conference leader, University of Missouri- St. Louis (31-3, 16-2), maintained its No. 3 position.
 
USI in the GLVC
The Eagles are currently fourth in GLVC play with a 12-4 record, 25-5 overall. USI is second in team batting with a .326 average and second in team pitching with a 1.91 ERA.
 
Three Eagles grace the GLVC's top-15 list in batting averages with Senior MacKenzi Dorsam (Dubois, Indiana) at No. 6 hitting .419, while sophomore Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) and freshman Olivia Clark-Kittleson (Carbondale, Illinois) are ninth and 15^th, respectively, hitting .400 and .387.
 
In the circle, USI is lead by senior Brooke Harmening (Whiteland, Indiana) who is fourth in the GLVC with a 1.29 ERA. Junior Sarah Owens (Indianapolis, Indiana), rounds the list at No. 10 with a 1.95 ERA.
 
Parkside, Lewis notes
The Rangers are last in the GLVC with a 6-25 overall record, 1-15 in conference play, while the Flyers are currently seventh at 18-13 overall, 9-7 in the GLVC, and will make their way over to Evansville following a doubleheader with Bellarmine University Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky.
 
Follow the Eagles live
Those who can't make it out to the USI Softball Field this weekend can head to the USI softball schedule page on gousieagles.com for live statistics and video links.