EVANSVILLE, Ind.----The University of Southern Indiana softball team opened its 2016 campaign with a pair of victories over Ohio Dominican University on Saturday afternoon at the USI Softball Field. The Screaming Eagles stormed to a 7-1 win in the opening contest, before grabbing the sweep with a 5-3 triumph in the second game.
 
USI opens the season with a 2-0 overall record, while the Panthers begin their 2016 campaign with an 0-2 mark.
 
Senior pitcher Sarah Owens dominated in the circle in the complete game victory. Owens allowed just three hits and one earned run, while striking out five in seven innings of work.
 
USI utilized a big second inning, in which the Eagles scored twice on wild pitches and scored a third time off an ODU throwing error. The Eagles recorded six hits in the contest to the Panthers three, but were able to capitalize on four ODU errors in the victory.
 
Leading USI was junior catcher Haley Hodges and sophomore outfield Shelby Tate, who each reached safely in each at bat. Hodges made three plate appearances, recording an RBI single in the fifth inning and two walks. Tate was selected to pinch hit late in the contest and tallied a single before stealing a base and scoring a run.
 
Sophomore infielder Mena Fulton recorded four plate appearances, reaching on an error twice, scoring two runs, and reaching base on a hit-by-pitch.
 
The opening game win is the Eagles' sixth straight since the 2010 season.
 
In the nightcap, freshman Courtney Atkisson earned the victory, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and one run, while striking and walking one batter. Fellow freshman Caitlyn Bradley came on in relief and finished off the Panthers, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing five hits and two earned runs.
 
The Eagles were once again powered by a three-run inning, this time in the third frame. Leading 1-0, Haley Hodges smacked a double to the right field wall that scored senior Toni Braun. Junior Lexi Reese stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single to center field, which scored Hodges. On the next at bat, freshman Haylee Smith singled down the left field line to score Reese and cap the big inning.
 
In the fourth inning, USI brought on sophomore Alex Logan to pinch hit. With runners at second and third, Logan blooped a single into shallow right field that scored Shelby Tate and provided the Eagles an insurance run and a 5-0 lead.
 
Ohio Dominican put up a battle in the late innings, scoring a tally in the sixth to cut the USI lead to just 5-1 heading into the seventh. The Panthers scored twice in the seventh inning on single down the left field line by senior Julia Suyak with no outs.
 
USI would respond with a 5-3 double play executed by Toni Braun and Sadie Foster to force the Panthers into their final out with one on base. ODU senior Kelsey Albanese sent a deep shot towards the left field wall that caused junior Grace Clark to twist and turn to locate the ball. The veteran Clark quickly turned to right herself and make the grab to record the final out.
 
USI returns to action on Tuesday, when the Eagles host Trevecca Nazarene University for a doubleheader at the USI Softball Field at 2 and 4 p.m. Trevecca enters the matchup with the Eagles having already played eight games and amassing a record of 5-3.