KANSAS CITY, Mo.---The University of Southern Indiana softball team ended it's conference weekend with a split against William Jewell College on Sunday afternoon in Liberty, Missouri. The Screaming Eagles grabbed the 13-9 victory in an offensive showcase in the opening contest, before falling to the Cardinals in eight innings, 5-4.
 
USI moves to 19-9 overall and 7-1 in the GLVC, while William Jewell shifts to 9-13 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

The Eagles opened the first game of the doubleheader with an offensive onslaught in the second inning. USI tallied five runs in the top of the second frame with an RBI single by freshman Caitlyn Bradley that scored two runs, followed by an RBI double by sophomore Marleah Fossett, and capped off by a two-run home run to center field by Haley Hodges.
 
William Jewell had an answer in the bottom of the second, as the Cardinals scored seven runs to take a 7-5 lead and force the Eagles to make a pitching change. Freshman Haylee Smith started the contest, but was replaced by senior Sarah Owens after allowing seven runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.
 
USI snuck back within one run in the top of the third on a solo homer by junior Grace Clark to cut the lead to 7-6.
 
The Eagles retook the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on a sacrifice fly by Hodges and a two-run home run by junior Lexi Reese.
 
With the Eagles leading 9-7, William Jewell looked to chip away at the USI lead with an unearned run.
 
USI tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth on another home run by Grace Clark and an RBI single by Marleah Fossett that pushed the Eagles ahead 11-8.
 
William Jewell attempted to mount a comeback in the final two innings, but could muster just one run on a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Eagles added two more runs for good measure in the top of the seventh inning on a two run shot to left center by freshman Caitlyn Bradley to provide USI the final 13-9 advantage.
 
Leading USI was freshman Caitlyn Bradley with a four-for-four performance at the play, scoring four runs and driving in three more. Junior Grace Clark went three-for-four with two home runs, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Sophomore Olivia Clark-Kittleson finished the first contest with a three-for-four game, adding two runs scored.
 
Sarah Owens earned her seventh victory of the season, coming on in relief and pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out four.

In the second game, USI started much like they did in the first contest. Hodges opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to center field to put the Eagles out in front 1-0.
 
William Jewell took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth when an Eagles error scored two runs for the Cardinals.
 
Lexi Reese continued her strong play, putting USI back on top 3-2 with a two-run home run in the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals kept themselves alive with a solo home run to tie the contest at 3-3 and send it into extra innings.
 
It was Lexi Reese once again who pushed the Eagles ahead, as the Lebanon, Indiana native cracked her sixth home run of the season and third of the day to give USI a 4-3 lead in the eighth.
 
William Jewell took advantage of opportunities in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs to grab the 5-4 victory with the final run coming on a walk-off single up the middle.

The Eagles were powered by Reese's two-for-four performance, as the junior recorded three RBIs and two runs on two home runs. In the circle, Sarah Owens fell to 7-2 on the season in the loss, pitching a complete 7.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on 10 hits and striking out five.
 
USI returns to USI Softball Field on Friday, when the Eagles host the University of Illinois Springfield for a conference doubleheader beginning at noon. The Eagles wrap up the weekend with a pair of GLVC contests against McKendree University on Saturday starting at noon.