EVANSVILLE, Ind.----On Play for Kate Day, the University of Southern Indiana softball team continued its winning ways at USI Softball Field with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Joseph's College on Sunday. The Screaming Eagles stormed to a 5-1 win in the opening contest, before grabbing the sweep with a 5-4 late-inning comeback.
 
USI rises to 26-12 overall and 14-4 in the GLVC, while Saint Joseph's falls to 10-27 overall and 7-11 in the conference.
 
In the first contest, USI jumped ahead in typical fashion. The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run home run by junior Haley Hodges. The home run is Hodges' 14^th of the season and 25^th of her career, moving her into a tie with former Eagle Brooke Harmening for second most all-time.
 
With USI in front 3-0, Saint Joseph's looked to spark a comeback with a single run in the top of the second. The Eagles would answer with a solo home run from sophomore Mena Fulton to move back ahead 4-1.
 
The Eagles would add an insurance run in the bottom of the third, as junior Lexi Reese singled in sophomore Marleah Fossett to increase the USI advantage to 5-1.
 
Leading USI was Haley Hodges, who finished one-for-one with a home run and three RBIs and two intentional walks in the at-bats following her first inning homer. Mena Fulton finished the first contest one-for-three with a home run and one RBI. Lexi Reese went one-for-three with an RBI, while Marleah Fossett went zero-for-two, but scored a pair of runs.

Freshman pitcher Haylee Smith pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits, while striking out four to move to 9-6 in the circle this season.
 
In game two, USI once again struck quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Despite attempting to intentionally walk her, Hodges connected with a pitch just off the outside corner of the plate and sent it into right center field to score freshman Caitlyn Bradley. Freshman Lindsey Barr stepped to the plate and reached on an error that would score Hodges and Reese.
 
Saint Joseph's roared back in the third and fourth innings, scoring four unanswered runs to take a 4-3 lead. The Eagles pulled senior pitcher Sarah Owens after 3.1 innings of work and brought in freshman Caitlyn Bradley to close out the fourth.
 
USI tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly center field by Mena Fulton that scored Lexi Reese.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles took a 5-4 lead when Caitlyn Bradley scored on a Puma error with two outs.
 
Saint Joseph's attempted to prolong the game, as the Pumas had a runner at third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but could not bring the run home.
 
The Eagles were led by Caitlyn Bradley in game two, as the freshman went two-for-three with two runs scored. Lexi Reese aided the effort with a one-for-three game, scoring a pair of runs. Hodges went one-for-one in game two, with a run scored, an RBI, and three intentional walks.
 
On top of the strong offensive effort, Bradley also earned the victory in the circle, pitching 3.2 innings in relief and holding the Pumas scoreless on four hits.
 
USI returns to action on Wednesday, when the Eagles host Oakland City University in a non-conference doubleheader at USI Softball Field at 5 and 7 p.m. The Eagles then hit the road for a conference weekend featuring a doubleheader against Lewis University of Saturday and a twin bill with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday.