EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball gets the 2024 campaign underway this weekend at the Easton Bama Bash, hosted by the University of Alabama at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. USI will face the University of Virginia, St. Thomas University, and host Alabama throughout the weekend event.
 
The Screaming Eagles, who begin their second season at the NCAA Division I level, will take on Virginia and St. Thomas on Friday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. USI concludes its opening weekend with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. against Alabama.
 
All three opponents for USI this weekend have already begun their 2024 season last weekend. Virginia went 3-2 in its opening slate of games, St. Thomas went winless in five games, and Alabama got off to an undefeated 5-0 start.
 
Southern Indiana will be facing all three schools this weekend for the first time ever. Virginia and Alabama are the Eagles' first opponents from a major conference since transitioning to Division I. Virginia is out of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Alabama is from the Southeastern Conference. Alabama was a 2023 Women's College World Series participant and is ranked No. 11 in the nation.
 
USI is coming off a 21-23 record in their inaugural D-I season in 2023, including a 13-9 mark in the first run through the Ohio Valley Conference. The Screaming Eagles finished third in the 2023 OVC standings and captured their first OVC Tournament win against Tennessee State University to open postseason play last May. USI's 2023 campaign came to an end with losses against Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at the OVC Tournament.
 
Southern Indiana was projected fourth in the 2024 OVC Preseason Poll with 112 points, as Southeast Missouri State University was projected first. USI junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was named to the 2024 OVC Preseason Players to Watch List.
 
After two strong seasons to begin her USI career, Newman returns to lead Southern Indiana's pitching staff. Newman was an All-OVC First Team selection last year after going 16-11 with a 2.53 ERA and 145 strikeouts. The right-hander tossed six shutouts and 18 complete games in 24 starts. Newman was also a three-time OVC Pitcher of the Week in 2023.
 
At the plate, USI returns senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana). Bedrick started all 44 games last season and batted .308 at the top of the order with a team-best 31 runs scored, which ranked sixth in the OVC. The top returning run producer in the Screaming Eagles' lineup with Bedrick is senior Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana). Fair also started all 44 games in 2023, hitting .222, and was second on the team with four home runs and 23 RBI. The power-hitter also added seven doubles last season.
 
The 2024 squad features 20 players – 13 returning players and seven newcomers. Head Coach Sue Kunkle, who enters 2024 with a 649-443-1 career record at USI, heads into her 23^rd season at the helm of the Screaming Eagles.
 
Live stats will be available for all three days of competition at Easton Bama Bash. Radio coverage will be provided by 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com). Video coverage will only be available for Sunday's game against Alabama on SEC Network+ through ESPN.