EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball looks to carry its momentum from last weekend into this weekend's Blue Bridge Battle at Kentucky Legend Fields in Owensboro, Kentucky. 
 
The Screaming Eagles (8-4), who have won four straight games, begin the weekend Friday at 2 p.m. when they take on Slippery Rock University—their first game Friday was canceled due to inclement temperatures in the forecast, while their game against Slippery Rock was pushed back from its original start time of noon.
 
USI continues the tournament when it takes on Ohio Dominican University and Notre Dame College (Ohio) Saturday at noon and 4 p.m., respectively. The Eagles conclude the weekend Sunday with games against Northwood University (10 a.m.) and Ashland University (2 p.m.).
 
Live stats (Friday/Sunday) and live update (Saturday) links are available at GoUSIEagles.com. 
 
USI Softball Notes
• USI goes 5-1 at Music City Invitational. USI Softball went 5-1 at the Music City Invitational last week, with all six games playing being against NCAA II Midwest Region opponents. The Eagles run-ruled three of their opponents en route to a whopping .396 team batting average on the weekend.
 
• Eagles offense off to fast start. The Eagles are hitting .376 as a team and enter the weekend ranked first in the GLVC in runs scored (91), hits (129), doubles (26), triples (14) and RBI (85).
 
• Last week's leaders. Junior shortstop Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) hit .476 (10-21) with seven runs scored, a double, triple and four RBI to lead the Eagles last week. Senior pitcher/designated player Katie Back (Indianapolis, Indiana) hit .438 (7-16) with three doubles and three RBI, while sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) hit .389 (7-18) with with three doubles, a triple and seven RBI.
 
In the circle, senior pitcher Maddie Duncan (Lynnville, Indiana) went 1-0 with a save, a 0.00 ERA and .053 opponent batting average in three appearances and six innings of work. Back was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA, while freshman pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) was 2-0 with a 2.62 ERA.
 
• Offensive season leaders. Freshman outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) leads USI in batting average (.463), runs scored (15) and hits (19). Fair has a team-high five doubles and 12 RBI, while junior second baseman Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) leads USI with three triples.
 
• Pitching leaders. Gotshall leads USI with a 3-0 record to go along with a 2.41 ERA, while Duncan is 1-1 with a team-best 2.10 ERA and .130 opponent batting average. Freshman pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) leads USI with 24 strikeouts and 23 1/3 innings of work.
 
• Kunkle closing in on another milestone. Head Coach Sue Kunkle, now in her 21st season at the helm of the Eagles, is just 13 wins shy of career win No. 600.
 
• Beep Beep. Nalley and sophomore All-American outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) continue to put pressure on opposing defenses. Bedrick, USI's lead-off hitter, is hitting .341 with a team-best six stole bases in seven attempts this season. Nalley, who hits right behind Bedrick, is 5-for-5 in stolen bases. The duo respectively ranks second and third in the GLVC in stolen bases.
 
• Hitting streaks. Bedrick and Back each have currently hit in a team-high five straight games, while Nalley had a team-high nine-game hitting streak end in USI's win over Ferris State last Sunday.
 
• On deck. Following the Blue Bridge Battle, the Eagles depart for Winter Haven, Florida, to take part in the Spring Games March 4-8.