EVANSVILLE, Ind.----The University of Southern Indiana softball team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a pair of victories over Drury University on Friday evening at the USI Softball Field. The Screaming Eagles stormed to a 6-1 win in the opening contest, before grabbing the sweep with an 8-0 romp in six innings in the second game.
 
USI rises to 14-8 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC, while Drury falls to 6-12 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Senior pitcher Sarah Owens dominated in the circle in the complete game victory. Owens allowed just four hits and one earned run, while striking out six in seven innings of work.
 
USI utilized big innings in the third and the fifth to help pull away from the Panthers. The Eagles jumped ahead 3-0 in the third inning on a two-run double by junior Haley Hodges and an RBI double by fellow junior Lexi Reese.
 
In the fifth, Reese earned another RBI on a double to center field that scored freshman Lindsey Barr, while sophomore Marleah Fossett singled through the left side to score Reese and push the Eagles ahead 5-0.
 
The Eagles tallied another run onto their lead in the sixth, as junior Grace Clark smashed a solo home run down the left field line to give USI a 6-0 advantage.
 
Drury attempted to make a comeback in the top of the seventh, but could only push one run across in the Eagles' 6-1 victory.
 
Leading USI was junior shortstop Lexi Reese, who went two-for-three in the opening contest, driving in two runs and scoring one. Grace Clark also went two-for-three, but added a single RBI and a run scored on her sixth inning homer. Freshman Lindsey Barr continued to contribute, as the Whitesville, Kentucky native went one-for-two with two runs scored in the first game.
 
In the nightcap, freshman Haylee Smith earned the victory in the circle, pitching a complete game shutout in six innings, allowing eight hits, while striking out one.
 
Offensively, the Eagles were once again powered by the middle of the order. USI opened the scoring in the second with a two-run blast to right center field by sophomore Marleah Fossett that brought home Lexi Reese. Reese returned the favor with a three-run home run in the third that scored Hodges and freshman Caitlyn Bradley.
 
USI capped off the hit parade with a solo shot by Haley Hodges, the Portage, Indiana native's seventh of the season.
 
In the Eagles' 8-0 victory, USI was led by Hodges, Fossett, and Reese, who each went two-for-three and smashed a home run. USI smacked 10 hits in the second game, scoring eight runs, while Drury knocked eight hits, but was unable to score a run.
 
USI returns to action on Saturday, when the Eagles host Missouri University of Science & Technology for a doubleheader at the USI Softball Field at 3 and 5 p.m.