EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball returns to the field this weekend at the University of Alabama Birmingham Green and Gold Classic in Birmingham, Alabama.
USI (1-4) will face Samford University (6-3), Belmont University (5-5), Purdue University (6-5), and tournament host UAB (6-3) throughout the weekend. On Friday, USI takes on Samford and Belmont at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. The Screaming Eagles will face Purdue and UAB on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Noon, respectively.
Samford and Belmont are the only schools Southern Indiana has faced before. USI split two games at Samford in the Bulldog Classic in USI's first Division I season in 2023. The Screaming Eagles have also battled Belmont twice, and more recently, at the Jacksonville State University Cocky Classic last season when the Bruins won 12-4. The Eagles are competing against UAB and Purdue for the first time. Purdue will be USI's first-ever Big Ten Conference opponent.
The Screaming Eagles get back to action after last weekend's scheduled games at the University of Evansville tournament were canceled due to bad weather.
Southern Indiana last played and opened its season February 6-8 at the University of Hawai'i Paradise Classic in Manoa, Hawai'i. USI won its first season opener 4-3 over Saint Louis University before falling in its last four games against Santa Clara University, host Hawai'i, and a rematch against Saint Louis.
Junior outfielder
Caroline Stapleton was USI's top hitter in Hawai'i, batting .429 with six hits in 14 at-bats. Stapleton also scored twice. Senior outfielder
Kennedy Nalley had a team-high two RBIs, while fellow senior
Whitley Hunter batted .300 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Senior pitcher
Josie Newman led USI's pitching staff with three complete games, 34 strikeouts, and 19 innings of work. Freshman pitcher
Kylie Witthaus had a solid debut start for USI against Hawai'i on February 8, hurling five-plus innings.
Newman, who is third in USI history in strikeouts, tried to chase down her single-game career high for strikeouts in two of her three starts in Hawai'i. The senior's current career high is 17 strikeouts, which the right-hander has achieved twice in her career at USI, including once last season. Newman's second start in Hawai'i saw the senior sit down 13 batters. The righty did one better with 14 strikeouts in the next start against Saint Louis.
Live stats will be available for all games of competition in Birmingham. Friday's game against UAB can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage can be found through USI Athletics social media platforms and at usiscreamingeagles.com.
