EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball fought back from an early 3-0 deficit against Western Illinois University on Sunday afternoon to tie the game 3-3 through two innings at USI Softball Field, but the Screaming Eagles came up just short in their Ohio Valley Conference series finale against the Leathernecks, 4-3. The Leathernecks took two of three games to win the weekend series.
After a quick strikeout to begin Sunday's game, Western Illinois (6-13, 2-1 OVC) got the offense rolling and struck for two runs in the top of the first inning. The Leathernecks built a 3-0 lead with another run in the second.
Southern Indiana's (4-13, 1-2 OVC) offense came alive with a three-run home half of the second inning. Sophomore infielder
Shelby Stivers drove in USI's first run on a single up the middle. Then freshman first baseman
Lilly Brown tied the game, 3-3, in the next at-bat with a two-run double to left center.
The Leathernecks scored for the third straight frame in the third to take a 4-3 lead. Despite USI threatening with a runner in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, the final four innings went scoreless.
The Screaming Eagles totaled five hits with Stivers and Brown combining for three hits at the bottom of the batting order. In the pitching circle, freshman pitcher
Kylie Witthaus took a no-decision after starting the first two innings with three runs allowed and a strikeout. Senior pitcher
Josie Newman (3-7) finished the final five innings with seven strikeouts and only the go-ahead run surrendered, taking the loss.
Western Illinois collected 10 hits. Freshman pitcher Libby Spaulding (2-2) recorded her second win of the weekend in middle relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Lillie Wools notched her second save of the series, hurling the final two innings scoreless. Freshman starting pitcher Kaitlyn Green took a no-decision in an inning and a third with three runs given up.
Southern Indiana will get set for a midweek trip to Indiana University on Wednesday at 3 p.m. from Bloomington, Indiana. Wednesday's contest can be seen with a subscription to Big Ten Plus and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. USI resumes Ohio Valley Conference play at Tennessee State University next weekend.
