EVANSVILLE, Ind.--- The University of Southern Indiana softball team's high-powered offense combined for a total of 23 hits and 21 runs as the Screaming Eagles earned a GLVC doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at the USI Softball Field defeating the University of Illinois Springfield 13-4 in five innings and 8-3.
 
The Screaming Eagles improve to 21-9 overall, 9-1 in conference action, while the Prairie Stars fall to 10-18 overall, 2-8 in the GLVC.
 
In game one, the Screaming Eagles exploded for 13 runs in the run-rule shortened victory, while collecting 13 hits.
 
Illinois Springfield struck first in the top of the first with a single run to open up the scoring.
 
As has been the trend most of the season for USI, the Eagles quickly responded with three runs in the bottom of the first and another run in the second.
 
Juniors Grace Clark and Lexi Reese each contributed with a single, as Reese plated two runs, while Clark scored one.
 
The Prairie Stars tied it up 4-4 in the top of the third with a three run inning on a pair of home runs.
 
Once again, the Screaming Eagles responded, this time with an eight-run bottom of the third inning. In the offensive explosion, junior Haley Hodges smashed two home runs to aid in the onslaught.
 
USI added one more run in the bottom of the fourth to move ahead 13-4 before shutting down USI in the top of the fifth for the run-rule victory.
 
In game one, the Eagles were led by junior Haley Hodges, who finished the contest two-for-three, driving in four runs, and scoring twice on two home runs. Freshman Lindsey Barr went two-for-three with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a home run. Junior Grace Clark continued her hot streak, going two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored.
 
In the circle, senior Sarah Owens earned the victory, pitching a complete five innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs, while striking out five.
 
The Eagles opened game two of the doubleheader in similar fashion, as USI tallied three runs in the bottom of the third to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. In the third, the Eagles score two runs on wild pitches and added a third run on an RBI single by senior Janna Green.

UIS notched two runs in the top of the fourth to narrow the USI advantage to just 3-2, but the Eagles came right back with a three-run inning in the bottom of the fourth powered by a three-run shot by sophomore Mena Fulton, her first of the season.
 
Trailing 6-3, the Prairie Stars looked to start a comeback in the top of the fifth, scoring a single run, but were stopped in their tracks by the USI defense.
 
To pad their lead, USI scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double to center field by sophomore Marleah Fossett that scored sophomore Olivia Clark-Kittleson and freshman Caitlyn Bradley.
  
In the second contest, the Eagles were led by sophomore Marleah Fossett, who finished two-for-four, bringing in two runs. Fellow sophomore Mena Fulton went one-for-three with three RBIs coming on the Bloomington, Indiana native's first home run in a Screaming Eagles uniform. Hodges continued to power the Eagles in the second game, as the junior went two-for-four with a run scored.
 
Freshman Haylee Smith earned the victory, her seventh of the season, pitching a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and striking out four.
 
USI continues the home conference weekend with a doubleheader against McKendree University on Saturday at USI Softball Field at noon and 2 p.m.