EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball captured a 1-0 series-opening win in extra innings against the University of Tennessee at Martin Thursday behind a walk-off hit from sophomore infielder Sydney Long and a sharp pitching performance from senior Josie Newman.
 
Thursday's walk-off victory was Southern Indiana's (11-21, 8-9 OVC) third walk-off win this season. USI previously recorded walk-wins in seven innings against Tennessee Tech University on March 29, in six innings against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on April 7, and in the eighth inning on Thursday against UT Martin (14-24, 6-12 OVC).
 
A pitcher's duel unfolded early in Thursday's series opener. Skyhawks junior pitcher Ashtyn Green and Newman went toe-to-toe in the pitching circle, matching zeroes and keeping the game hitless through three innings.
 
UT Martin recorded the game's first hit in the top of the fourth inning. The Screaming Eagles got in the hit column on a pair of hits by Newman and sophomore catcher Alyssa Mumaw in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game remained scoreless through seven innings, leading to extra innings.
 
The Screaming Eagles kept UT Martin off the scoreboard to begin extra innings and had their opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and the potential game-winning baserunner at first base in senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley, a single by junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton advanced Nalley into scoring position. In the next at-bat, Long sent up a pitch back up the box and into centerfield to score Nalley from second base and give Southern Indiana the walk-off victory in the series opener.
 
Southern Indiana tallied six hits, including the game-winning hit and RBI from Long and a pair of hits at the plate by Newman. In the pitching circle, Newman (7-13) surrendered only two hits in the eight-inning shutout win and struck out 13 batters, which was only two shy of her season-high 15 strikeouts against Winthrop University in late February. The right-hander has seven outings this season with 10-plus strikeouts. Newman's last start with 10 or more strikeouts was in mid-March at Tennessee State University.
 
UT Martin's Green (7-8) also tossed a complete game, allowing only one run with three strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.
 
The Screaming Eagles and Skyhawks conclude the series Friday with a doubleheader starting at Noon from USI Softball Field. Friday's games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.