EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball travels to the state of Alabama for the second time within a week this weekend when the Screaming Eagles head to Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama for the 2024 Cocky Classic. Southern Indiana will play five games from Friday through Sunday.
 
The Screaming Eagles (1-4) will play the University of Southern Mississippi (4-4) on Friday at 12:30 p.m., Jacksonville State (2-9) at 10 a.m. and Belmont University (4-4) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, and Southern Miss at 10 a.m. and Jacksonville State at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
 
USI will be facing Southern Miss and Jacksonville State for the first time ever this weekend and only the second time against Belmont. The Bruins defeated USI 2-0 in the only previous matchup in 1994.
 
USI opened its 2024 campaign last weekend at the Easton Bama Bash. USI dropped two games against the University of Virginia, 5-2 and 3-1, who was the first-ever Power 5 opponent for USI Softball. The Eagles split two games against the University of St. Thomas, losing 3-1 and winning 4-1. USI concluded the weekend with a 2-0 loss to #11 University of Alabama, the first top-25 team USI played since making the jump to Division I before the 2023 season.
 
In last Saturday's battle against No. 11 Alabama, USI battled the Crimson Tide to the final inning. After Alabama scored two runs in the first inning on bases-loaded walks and a sac fly, the game turned into a pitcher's duel. There were five combined hits. Junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched a gem, holding Alabama to two hits and retired the side in order in the final three innings. However, USI could not string together hits, recording three singles on Sunday.
 
Another highlight of the first weekend for USI Softball was the 4-1 win against St. Thomas. Newman had a strong outing against the Tommies, throwing a complete game with 10 strikeouts and allowing only one unearned run. Offensively, senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) and senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) each had two hits. Fair and senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) each had a double and an RBI in the victory.
 
All in all, Newman tossed three complete games with 15 strikeouts in 20 innings of work last weekend. Bedrick paced USI at the plate with a .313 batting average in the first five games. USI's freshmen found themselves in the mix right away, as five freshmen players made at least one start during the Easton Bama Bash. Freshman infielder Sydney Long (Haubstadt, Indiana) and freshman outfielder Kate Satkoski (Lanesville, Indiana) started all five games for USI. With the bat, USI will look to drive more runs in after leaving 28 runners on base and scoring only seven total runs last weekend.
 
Live stats will be available for all three days of competition at the Cocky Classic. Video coverage will only be available for Saturday's and Sunday's games against Jacksonville State with a subscription to ESPN+.