EVANSVILLE, Ind.---The 24th-ranked University of Southern Indiana softball team hit the road to continue conference play this weekend. The Screaming Eagles open the weekend with a doubleheader against Rockhurst University on Saturday at noon in Kansas City, Mo. before taking on William Jewell College in a noon doubleheader on Sunday in Liberty, Mo.

Eagles In The Polls
USI is receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Eagles received 11 votes poll after being ranked 24^th last week.

Speaking Statistically
The Eagles rank in the top 50 as a team in three statistical categories. USI ranks fourth in the nation and first in the GLVC in double plays per game with 0.71 per contest. Offensively, the Eagles rank 22^nd in the nation and first in the GLVC in doubles per game and 46^th in the country and third in the GLVC in home runs per game.
 
Individually, junior Lexi Reese has helped power the Eagles with 11 doubles, 26^th most nationally. Reese is currently on pace to break Kirstin Eickholt's record of 21 doubles in a season (2006). Fellow junior Haley Hodges ranks 22^nd in total RBIs with 29, 32^nd in RBIs per game with 1.21, 25^th in total home runs with seven, and fourth in homers per game with 0.29.
 
Offensive Firepower
USI ranks 63^rd in the nation and fourth in the conference, averaging 5.5 runs per game. The Eagles have been led by sophomore Marleah Fossett, who has had a breakout 2016 season with a ,484 batting average, while driving in 13 runs and slamming a pair of home runs. Juniors Lexi Reese and Haley Hodges follow with .394 and .387 batting averages, respectively.
 
Eagles in the Circle
USI has benefitted from emerging freshman pitchers so far in 2016. Freshman Haylee Smith leads the team with a 2.22 ERA and a 5-4 record in 11 appearances. Senior veteran Sarah Owens has amassed a 2.95 ERA with a 5-1 record in 14 appearances, while striking out a team-high 47 batters in 54.2 innings.
 
Scouting Rockhurst
The Hawks enter the weekend with an 8-14 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the GLVC…Rockhurst is led offensively by junior outfielder Hannah Pyle, who is hitting .409 on the season…USI owns a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series with Rockhurst.

Scouting William Jewell
The Cardinals are 6-12 overall and 0-4 in the conference to start 2016…WJC is led by sophomore infielder Brooke Bernard, who ranks 12^th in the nation with a .509 batting average…USI leads the all-time series with William Jewell 4-2.