RENSSELAER, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball forged a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader split with host Saint Joseph's College Saturday afternoon. The No. 10 Screaming Eagles suffered a 4-1 setback in the opener before earning a 5-2 win in game two.
USI (32-8, 11-5 GLVC) returns to action Sunday at 11 a.m. (CDT) when it visits No. 14 University of Indianapolis.
Game 1 | Saint Joseph's 4, Southern Indiana 1
Saint Joseph's (12-21, 5-11 GLVC) scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
USI got a run back in the third frame with an RBI-single from junior designated player
Alex Logan (Carleton, Michigan), but that was as close as the Eagles would get as they stranded 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the top of the first inning.
The setback marks the first time this year that USI has lost a game by more than one run and is the first time that the Eagles have not won game one of a doubleheader.
Sophomore lefty
Courtney Atkisson (Bringhurst, Indiana) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs off three hits in less than an inning of work. Atkisson (10-5) gave way to sophomore
Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana), who came on to hold the Pumas scoreless throughout 5.1 innings of action.
Game 2 | Southern Indiana 5, Saint Joseph's 2
After USI and Saint Joseph's traded tallies in the third inning, a two-run home run off the bat of Bradley gave the Eagles a 3-1 edge in the top of the fourth frame.
An RBI-double by senior catcher
Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) in the fifth pushed in senior shortstop
Lexi Reese (Lebanon, Indiana) for a 4-1 cushion, while an RBI-single by senior outfielder
Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) gave USI a 5-2 edge in the seventh. Reese's sacrifice fly in the third scored USI's first run of the contest.
Freshman pitcher
Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) earned the win after giving up two runs off six hits in seven innings of work. Leonhardt (18-1) allowed three walks, but racked up nine strikeouts for her 15th consecutive win.