LOUISVILLE, Ky.---Despite a two home run day from junior catcher Haley Hodges, the University of Southern Indiana softball team dropped a road doubleheader with Bellarmine University on Tuesday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles dropped the first doubleheader 8-3 to the Knights, before falling in the second game 8-1.
 
USI moves to 23-11 overall and 11-3 in the GLVC, while Bellarmine shifts to 19-19 overall and 8-6 in the conference.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the first game of the doubleheader with an RBI double by junior Haley Hodges to put USI ahead 1-0 early on. Bellarmine responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead before tacking on a third and fourth run in the third and fifth innings.
 
USI looked to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth, as the Eagles struck for two runs on a home run by Hodges, her 12^th of the season, to cut the Knights' lead to 4-3. The Knights secured the victory with a four run bottom of the sixth to take the 8-3 win.

Leading USI was junior Haley Hodges, who finished two-for-three with a double, a home run, and three RBIs in the loss. In the circle, Senior Sarah Owens fell to 9-3 on the season, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on ten hits. Freshman Caitlyn Bradley came on in relief and pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up just one hit.

In the second game, USI fell behind early and could not work themselves back.
 
Bellarmine scored first on a three-run home run in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead.
 
USI responded with a run in the third on a solo home run by Haley Hodges to close the gap to 3-1. The Knights continued to showcase their power hitting in the bottom of the third with another three-run home run to push Bellarmine ahead 6-1. The Eagles had an opportunity in the top of the seventh inning when Hodges was walked to load the bases with two outs, but USI could not capitalize.
 
Bellarmine tallied two more runs in the sixth to wrap-up the 8-1 victory.

Once again, the Eagles were led by Hodges, who finished the second game 1-1 with a home run, an RBI and a pair of walks. Freshman Caitlyn Bradley helped the Eagles' effort with a three-for-four performance. Freshman Haylee Smith fell to 8-5 on the season in the circle, pitching six innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and striking out four.
 
USI returns to USI Softball Field on Saturday, when the Eagles host the University of Indianapolis for a conference doubleheader beginning at noon on "Awareness Day". The Eagles wrap up the weekend with a pair of GLVC contests against Saint Joseph's College on Sunday starting at noon.