EVANSVILLE, Ind.---The University of Southern Indiana softball team returns to USI Softball Field for a set of four conference contests this weekend. The Screaming Eagles open the weekend with a doubleheader against the University of Illinois Springfield on Friday at noon before taking on McKendree University in a noon doubleheader on Saturday.

Eagles In The Polls
USI is receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Eagles received 12 votes after receiving 11 votes in last week's poll.

Home Sweet Home
The Eagles are 19-9 on the season and 7-1 in the GLVC, while holding an unblemished 8-0 record at USI Softball Field. The eight-straight home victories to open a season is the most since the Eagles went 8-0 at homne to open the 2012 season. USI is currently on an 18 game home winning-streak including the last 10 home contests last season, the longest home winning-streak since the Eagles won 23 straight between the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
 
Record Breakers
In USI's 13-9 victory over William Jewell on Sunday, the Eagles broke the record for most team home runs in a single game with five. Junior Grace Clark hit two homers, while juniors Haley Hodges and Lexi Reese and freshman Caitlyn Bradley each smashed on home run.
 
Individually, Hodges is on pace to break the single-season records for RBIs and home runs at USI. Reese is also on a record-breaking track with 11 doubles just past the halfway point of the season.

Speaking Statistically
The Eagles rank in the top 50 as a team in four statistical categories. USI ranks fifth in the nation and first in the GLVC in double plays per game with 0.64 per contest. Offensively, the Eagles rank 26th in the nation and second in the GLVC in doubles per game, 27th in the country and fourth in the GLVC in home runs per game, and 50^th in in the nation and fourth in the conference in slugging percentage.
 
Individually, junior Haley Hodges has helped power the Eagles with nine home runs, 14th most nationally, and 35 RBIs, 22^nd most nationally. Fellow junior Lexi Reese has aided the Eagles offensively with six home runs, 66^th in the nation, and 26 RBIs, 78^th best nationally. Senior Janna Green has produced .32 sacrifice hits per game on the season good enough for 33^rd nationally and second best in the GLVC.

Eagles in the Circle
USI has benefitted from emerging freshman pitchers so far in 2016. Freshman Haylee Smith holds a 2.79 ERA and a 6-4 record in 13 appearances. Senior veteran Sarah Owens has amassed a team-best 2.34 ERA with a 7-2 record in 17 appearances, while striking out a team-high 63 batters in 74.2 innings.
 
Freshmen Courtney Atkisson and Caitlyn Bradley have added depth to the Eagles' pitching staff. Atkissons has compiled a 3-2 record in 11 appearances with a 3.21 ERA, while Bradley holds a 3.60 ERA and a 3-1 record in seven appearances.
 
Scouting UIS
The Prairie Stars enter the weekend with a 10-16 overall record and a 2-6 mark in the GLVC…UIS is led offensively by senior infielder Brittany Miller, who is hitting .338 on the season…USI owns a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series UIS.

Scouting McKendree
The Bearcats are 9-17 overall and 3-5 in the conference in 2016…McKendree is led by junior infielder Hanna Branch with a .359 batting average…USI leads the all-time series with McKendree 31-5.