JACKSONVILLE, Ala.—University of Southern Indiana Softball suffered a pair of setbacks Saturday at the Cocky Classic. The Screaming Eagles fell to host Jacksonville State University, 12-4, in five innings in the opener, before falling, 12-4, in five innings to Belmont University in the second game.
 
In the opener, the Screaming Eagles had a promising start to the contest when freshman designated player Alyssa Mumaw (Greenfield, Indiana) hit an RBI-double in the top of the first inning to give USI a 1-0 advantage.
 
Junior second baseman Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) opened the second inning with a double and reached third with no outs as USI looked as if it might add to its lead.
 
Jax State (5-9), however, got out of the jam unscathed before tagging the Eagles with seven runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding six-run lead. The Gamecocks added two more in the bottom of the third and three in the last half of the fourth as their lead ballooned to 12-1 heading into the fifth.
 
USI made a run in the fifth, scoring three times in an attempt to keep the game from ending in a run rule. A lead-off triple by sophomore outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana) set up sophomore Olivia Money (Fort Branch, Indiana) for a pinch-hit RBI-single to right field.
 
The proceeded to load the bases with a single and a walk in the following at-bats, setting up freshman Kate Satkoski (Lanesville, Indiana) for a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to bring in the second run.
 
Sophomore second baseman Julianna Hibbs (Henderson, Kentucky) drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI-single, but that's as close as USI would get as Jax State closed the door on the comeback attempt with a strikeout.
 
Junior pitcher Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois) was charged with the loss after giving up five runs off four hits in a little over an inning of work. As a hole, Jax State finished with 11 hits on the morning.

Like the first game, the Eagles opened the second game with a 1-0 lead following a run-scoring single by senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Belmont (6-4), however, answered with a tally in the top half of the second inning before erupting for five runs in the third frame and a commanding 6-1 advantage.
 
After loading the bases in the bottom of the third, the Eagles were able to get a run back to cut the deficit to 6-2; but a two-run fourth inning followed by a four-run fifth put the Bruins up 12-2.
 
An RBI-double by Money, followed by an RBI-single by junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) in the bottom of the fifth got the Eagles back to within 12-4, but that was as close as USI would get as a ground-out and a fly-out would strand two Eagles on base.
 
Newman (2-3) took the loss for the Eagles after giving up 12 runs, five earned, off eight hits. She also surrendered six walks while fanning five batters.
 
USI returns to action Sunday when it takes on the University of Southern Mississippi at 10 a.m. and Jax State at 12:30 p.m.