EVANSVILLE, Ind.---The University of Southern Indiana softball team hits the road for the first time in 2016, as the Screaming Eagles head to Spartanburg, South Carolina for the Mid-South Classic Friday through Sunday.
 
USI opens the classic Friday with a 3 p.m. matchup with Augusta University before challenging Wingate University at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Eagles take on the 22^nd-ranked University of North Georgia at 11 a.m. and the University of North Carolina-Pembroke at 1 p.m. To wrap up the classic, USI takes on 19^th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University at 9 a.m. before finishing up the trip south with a game against Lincoln Memorial University at 11 a.m.

Eagles In The Polls
USI fell out of the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll despite amassing a 4-0 record during the first weekend. The poll did not take into account games played Tuesday, which included the Eagles' 6-5 and 9-1 triumphs over Trevecca Nazarene University.

Milestone Win Ahead
Head coach Sue Kunkle enters her 15th season just five victories away from 400 for her career. Kunkle, the all-time wins leader in program history, has a career record of 395-303-1 (.563) with the Eagles.

Hot Bats
Junior catcher/first baseman Haley Hodges has begun the 2016 season on fire. The Portage, Indiana native is hitting .778 to start the year, with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Hodges is joined by a trio of .400 hitters, including sophomores Shelby Tate and Olivia Clark-Kittleson and junior Lexi Reese. The Eagles as a team are hitting ,316 on the young season and averaging just shy of eight runs a contest.
 
Eagles In the Circle
Through four games, USI has been led by a pair of freshman, as well as strong performances by a USI veteran. Freshman Courtney Atkisson leads the Eagles with a 2-0 record and 1,74 ERA, while striking out three batters and allowing just two runs in her two appearances. Fellow freshman Caitlyn Bradley has earned a 1-0 record in two relief appearances, while holding a 2.84 ERA. Senior Sarah Owens has a 1-0 record in two starts for USI, while amassing a 3.86 ERA and striking out a team-high five batters.
 
Scouting Friday's Matchups
The Jaguars of Augusta University enter Friday's battle with USI holding a 5-11 record on the season…the Eagles hold a 2-1 series lead over the Jaguars all-time with USI taking the last meeting 7-6 in 2014…the Bulldogs of Wingate University are 4-2 to start the 2016 season…this is the first meeting between USI and Wingate in softball.
 
Scouting Saturday's Matchups
The 22^nd-ranked Nighthawks of the University of North Georgia are off to 10-4 start to the 2016 season after amassing a 54-8 record in 2015 and capturing the NCAA Division II Softball National Championship…USI and the Nighthawks have met just once in program history with UNG capturing a 6-5 victory in eight innings back in 2007…the Braves of the University of North Carolina-Pembroke have amassed a 5-5-1 record so far in 2016…this is the first meeting between the two softball programs.
 
Scouting Sunday's Matchups
The 19^th-ranked Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University have opened 2016 with an 11-1 record…the Bears and Eagles have done battle just once in program history with USI taking a 2-1 victory in 2004…the Rail Splitters of Lincoln Memorial University enter the weekend with a 3-10 record…LMU and USI have met once with USI earning the lone victory in a 10-0 triumph over the Rail Splitters in 1997.