ST. LOUIS—Sophomore outfielder Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) hit a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning as the No. 17 University of Southern Indiana softball team defeated Grand Valley State University, 4-2, in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region #1 Tournament.

After five hours of rain delays, the Screaming Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when junior outfielder Janna Green (Glenwood, Indiana) pushed across senior pitcher Brooke Harmening (Whiteland, Indiana) with an RBI-groundout. It was Green's first at-bat since a back-injury sidelined her for nearly a month.

Grand Valley State (32-16), however, answered USI's charge in the bottom of the second frame as freshman shortstop Teagan Shomin hit a one-out, solo homerun to tie the contest before Harmening walked in a run to put the Lakers up 2-1.

USI (38-9) tied the game in the third frame as Clark drove in a run on a two-out error.

Despite the struggles in the second inning, Harmening settled into the pitchers' circle as she retired six straight Lakers throughout the third and fourth innings to keep the game tied at 2-2.

The Lakers threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning, but a diving catch by Clark in right field saved a run and ended Grand Valley State's scoring chance.

After the Eagles left runners at second and third in the top of the sixth, Grand Valley State once again threatened to score in the bottom of the frame. The Lakers had runners at the corners with one out, but Harmening induced back-to-back pop-ups to the pitchers' circle to end Grand Valley State's scoring chance.

Freshman outfielder Olivia Clark-Kittleson (Carbondale, Illinois) and freshman designated player Shelby Tate (Mattoon, Illinois) drew back-to-back walks to open the seventh inning; then, following a passed ball, senior second baseman MacKenzi Dorsam (Dubois, Indiana) loaded the bases with another walk.

Two batters later, Clark roped a shot down the left field line to push Tate and Dorsam across the plate for the 4-2 lead.

Harmening (22-3) retired the Lakers in order in the bottom of the seventh inning as she earned the complete-game victory. She struck out five batters while surrendering two runs, one earned, off five hits.

USI returns to action Saturday at 11 a.m. when it faces the victor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis-Wayne State University game in the winners' bracket. The No. 1-ranked Tritons and the Warriors were in a rain delay in the bottom of the first inning at the time of publication.