EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball gets a taste of the Midwest Region this weekend when it heads to Smyrna, Tennessee, to compete in the Trevecca Nazarene University Music City Invitational.
 
All six of USI's opponents this weekend are Midwest Region opponents, which will put added weight to the games' outcomes.
 
The Screaming Eagles (3-3) open the weekend Friday when they take on Tiffin University at noon and Trevecca Nazarene at 2 p.m. USI continues the weekend with games against Kentucky Wesleyan College and the University of Findlay Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, while Sunday's final day pits the Eagles against Ferris State University (9 a.m.) and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (11 a.m.).
 
USI Softball Notes
• USI off to .500 start. The Eagles opened the year with a 3-3 record last week at the UAH Charger Chillout in Albertville, Alabama. The Eagles suffered first-game setbacks in each of their three days of competition but rebounded with wins in their nightcaps.
 
• Nalley starts off with bang. Freshman outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) made a huge impact on the Eagles' lineup in her first week of collegiate competition. Nalley hit .571 (12-21) with two doubles, a triple, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, four stolen bases and five walks. She had a .762 slugging percentage and a .630 on-base percentage on the week.
 
• 400 club. In addition to Nalley, the Eagles had four players with a .400 batting average or better in their first six games. Sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) hit .474 with a pair of doubles and five RBI, while junior second baseman Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) hit .400 with two doubles, two triples, seven runs scored and six RBI. Junior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) rounded out the Eagles' top offensive performers with a .400 batting average in 10 at-bats, while sophomore catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) hit .385 with two doubles and three runs scored.
 
• Speed at the top. Nalley jumped out to a fast start on the base path, stealing four bases from the No. 2 hole in the lineup. If that type of play continues through 2022, look for opposing catchers to be a little on edge when playing the Eagles as Nalley follows sophomore All-American outfielder and leadoff hitter Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) in the lineup.
 
Bedrick, who hit .304 with three RBI and five runs scored last weekend, led the GLVC in batting average (.434), runs scored per game (1.05), hits per game (1.43), steals (29), steals per game (0.78) and stolen base attempts (32) during her first year of collegiate softball.
 
• Big numbers. As a team, the Eagles finished the opening weekend ranked third in the GLVC with a .356 team batting average and first with seven triples. USI also had a GLVC-best 13 doubles, 43 RBI and 44 runs scored.
 
• In the circle. USI pitching struggled during the opening weekend as the staff had a 5.65 ERA during the first six games. However, the staff, which features a pair of freshmen, showed flashes of good things to come last weekend.
 
For starters, when freshmen Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was on, she was on point. She held Carson-Newman University to just two runs, one earned, with six strikeouts in six innings of work. She came back to blank nationally-ranked University of Alabama-Huntsville through five innings.
 
Freshman Hailey Gotshall had a team-low 2.00 ERA in three appearances and seven innings of work, while Goodin had a combined 11 strikeouts in her two starts on the weekend.
 
• On the horizon. Following this week's games, USI Softball returns to the Evansville tri-state area to compete at the Blue Bridge Classic in Owensboro, Kentucky, February 25-27.