TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Softball picked up its first win of the 2024 season on Saturday following a two-game split on day two of the Easton Bama Bash. The Screaming Eagles fell in their first game of the day against the University of Virginia, 3-1, before seizing a 4-1 victory in the nightcap against the University of St. Thomas.
 
In the second go-around against Virginia (5-4), Southern Indiana (1-3) trailed the Cavaliers 3-0 midway through Saturday's game. Virginia struck for a single run in three of the first four innings. USI sophomore pitcher Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky), who pitched 5.1 scoreless innings of relief in Friday's second game, made the start on Saturday against Virginia and kept crooked numbers off the scoreboard.
 
Meanwhile, the Screaming Eagles' offense struggled early on, earning its first hit against the Cavaliers in the top of the fourth inning. Then in the fifth inning, freshman infielder Sydney Long (Haubstadt, Indiana) doubled into the right-center gap to drive in a run for the Screaming Eagles, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Later, USI had the potential tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh inning, but a strikeout-throwout double play ended the game.
 
USI's one run came off four hits. Gibson was dealt the loss with three strikeouts and three runs allowed in four innings. Junior Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) tallied a pair of strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief. Virginia's Madison Harris was credited the win, coming into the game following an injury to Virginia's starter and tossing 3.2 shutout innings with nine strikeouts.
 
The Southern Indiana bats came out early in the win against the Tommies (1-8) on Saturday. The first six batters reached base to lead off the top of the first inning. With runners at the corners, senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) put USI on the scoreboard with an opposite-field RBI single. The next hitter, senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana), followed with an RBI double to the centerfield wall. USI added to its 2-0 lead with another run in the second inning.
 
Meanwhile, junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was cruising, striking out seven through five innings and maintaining USI's 3-0 advantage. That advantage grew in the top of the sixth. Three consecutive pinch-hit at-bats loaded the bases for the Screaming Eagles on back-to-back walks and a single. Junior outfielder Kennedy Nalley's (Huntingburg, Indiana) sac fly drove in USI's fourth run. St. Thomas got a run back in the seventh, but Newman finished the deal in her first complete-game win of the season.
 
Newman struck out 10 total batters in seven innings toward her first win of the season. The right-hander held the Tommies to four hits and one unearned run. St. Thomas' Christina Crawford also went the distance, taking her fourth loss of the year after surrendering four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
 
Offensively, USI scored four runs on eight hits. Fair had two hits and an RBI, and senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) also recorded a pair of hits.
 
Southern Indiana concludes the weekend at the Easton Bama Bash on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Screaming Eagles square off against the host team the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 11 in the nation and off to a 9-0 start this season, which includes two wins against Virginia and two against St. Thomas this weekend.
 
Coverage of Sunday's game can be heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com) and seen on SEC Network+ through ESPN. Live stats will also be available. All coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.