CLERMONT, Fla.---The 25^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana softball team earned a split on the final day of The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Screaming Eagles (12-8) opened the afternoon with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota State University-Mankato before falling to Holy Family University, 6-1, to conclude the evening.
 
The Screaming Eagles began the day with a 3-2 triumph over MSU-Mankato, as freshman Haylee Smith notched a complete game, nine-inning victory in the circle.
 
The Eagles opened the scoring with a solo-shot from junior Lexi Reese that pushed USI ahead 1-0. MSU responded in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single to knot the score at 1-1.
 
The Mavericks took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on a similar RBI single. USI would return the favor in the top of the sixth, as freshman Caitlyn Bradley singled in sophomore Olivia Clark-Kittleson to tie the contest at 2-2.
 
Despite placing a runner on second to start each half inning in the eighth due to international tiebreaker rules, neither team could muster a run.
 
The Eagles would take advantage in the top of the ninth as freshman Lindsey Barr scored an unearned run as junior Haley Hodges reached on an error. Haylee Smith was able to shut-down the Mavericks in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 3-2 victory for USI.
  
Smith earned the victory in the circle with a complete nine innings pitched, allowing eight hits, one run, and striking out three.
 
Offensively, the Eagles were led by a duo of freshman in Bradley and Barr, who each recorded a hit and an RBI. Hodges and Clark-Kittleson each added a hit, as well.
 
In the second game of the day, the Eagles fell behind Holy Family University early and were not able to mount a comeback in the 6-1 loss.
 
The Tigers of Holy Family struck first in the second inning on a pair of RBI doubles that sent HFU in front with a 2-0 lead. Holy Family added three more runs in the top of the third inning on two home runs.
 
In the seventh inning, the Tigers tacked on another run via an error that pushed HFU's lead to 6-0.
 
In an attempt to make a final comeback in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles scored a run on an RBI double by sophomore Marleah Fossett who came on as a pinch hitter, USI could not continue the run.
 
In the circle, Bradley started the contest and pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits before being removed in favor of freshman Courtney Atkisson. Atkisson came in to wrap up the third inning, lasting two-thirds of an inning, giving up one run on a single hit. Senior Sarah Owens pitched the final four innings of the game, keeping the Eagles within striking distance, allowing no earned runs on two hits and striking out five.
 
The Eagles' GLVC opening weekend has undergone schedule changes. USI returns to the USI Softball Field to face Drury University in a doubleheader on Friday at 4 p.m. USI closes out the weekend with a doubleheader against Missouri University of Science and Technology on Saturday starting at 3 p.m.