EVANSVILLE, Ind.---The University of Southern Indiana softball team returns to USI Softball Field to play for many causes in four conference contests this weekend. The Screaming Eagles open the weekend with a doubleheader against the top-ranked University of Indianapolis Greyhounds on Saturday at noon before taking on Saint Joseph's College in a noon doubleheader on Sunday.
 
The Screaming Eagles' doubleheader with the Greyhounds of UIndy on April 2 is USI's Awareness Day, while the Eagles will "Play for Kate" April 3 when they host the Pumas of Saint Joseph's for a doubleheader.
 
"We Play for…" (Awareness Day)
Awareness Day is a day where players and coaches for USI and UIndy have the opportunity to play for someone they love or know that has been affected by disease, illness, handicap, or other special cause, such as cancer awareness or heart disease. Every player and coach for USI and UIndy will be wearing colored ribbon representing the person they are honoring that day.

Each year, the Eagles make an effort, as a team, to honor someone within their softball family. This year, USI will wear T-shirts for Vicki Tuggle, the grandmother of senior infielder Toni Braun (Evanston, Indiana).

Tuggle has battled illness and paralysis throughout the last three years to prove that, with love, strength, and a great sense of humor, you can survive.

"Play for Kate"
On July 26, 2015, Kate Bruggenschmidt, a young lady in the softball community, was tragically killed in an ATV accident. She was 11 years old and a member of the local travel team, The Bomb Squad.

The softball family throughout the state of Indiana and beyond has rallied around her family to help hold events to raise benefits in her memory. Several benefits helped raise money for the new playground in Evansville that is being built in her name, and area scholarships honoring her, all of which is a part of the mission to "Play for Kate".

Kate's family will be in attendance for the doubleheader and her younger sister, Emma, will throw out the first pitch and be an honorary bat girl. USI players and coaches also will be wearing ribbons and bright green bracelets.

Home Sweet Home
The Eagles are 23-11 on the season and 11-3 in the GLVC, while holding an unblemished 12-0 record at USI Softball Field. The 12-straight home victories to open this season are the most in USI Softball history. USI is currently on an 22 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
Junior catcher Haley Hodges is on pace to break the single-season records for RBIs and home runs at USI. Hodges has 13 home runs and 45 RBIs through 34 games this season with 20 contests still left on the regular season schedule. Fellow junior Lexi 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 six statistical categories. USI ranks second in the nation and first in the GLVC in double plays per game with 0.66 per contest. Offensively, the Eagles rank 12th in the nation and first in the GLVC in doubles per game, 26th in the country and third in the GLVC in home runs per game, and 31st in in the nation and third in the conference in slugging percentage, 41^st in the nation and second in the conference in scoring, and 45^th in the nation and fifth in the conference in win-loss percentage.
 
Individually, junior Haley Hodges has helped power the Eagles with 13 home runs, 11th most nationally, and 45 RBIs, 14th most nationally. Fellow junior Lexi Reese has aided the Eagles offensively with eight home runs, 65^th in the nation, and 30 RBIs, 80^th best nationally. Senior Janna Green has produced .34 sacrifice hits per game on the season good enough for 26th nationally and second best in the GLVC.

Eagles in the Circle
In the circle, freshman Haylee Smith leads the Eagles with an 8-5 record and a 2.87 ERA. Senior Sarah Owens owns a 9-3 record with a 3.22 ERA, while striking out a team-high 75 batters on the season.
 
Freshman Courtney Atkisson holds a 3.14 ERA with a 3-2 record, while fellow freshman Caitlyn Bradley has appeared in eight contests and holds a 3.50 ERA.
 
Scouting UIndy
The Greyhounds enter the weekend ranked #1 in the nation with a 31-0 overall record on the season…UIndy is led by senior pitcher Morgan Foley, who holds a 0.65 ERA and a 23-0 record on the season with 272 strikeouts…offensively, the Greyhounds are led by junior utility player Natalie Lalich, who is currently hitting .433 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs…UIndy leads the all-time series with USI 29-28.

Scouting Saint Joseph's
The Pumas are 10-23 overall and 7-7 in the conference in 2016…SJC is led by senior third baseman Haley Miller with a .327 batting average and 20 RBIs…USI leads the all-time series with the Pumas 38-16.