EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball corralled its second series sweep of the season on Friday when the Screaming Eagles defeated the University of Tennessee at Martin in a doubleheader, 2-0 and 6-2, at USI Softball Field.
Southern Indiana's (13-21, 10-9 OVC) sweep over UT Martin (14-26, 6-14 OVC) was also its second at home, as USI's first sweep this season came at home in late March against Tennessee Tech University. The sweep also moved the Screaming Eagles up to fifth and a half game back of fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings through Friday's slate of games.
Game one on Friday began with an interesting first inning, as both teams threatened with runners in scoring position but were kept off the scoreboard. After the opening frame, the contest became a pitcher's duel like Thursday's series opener.
After a quick first-inning pitching change for UT Martin, Skyhawks freshman pitcher Natalie Kreuziger and USI freshman
Kylie Witthaus battled to keep the game scoreless into the fifth inning.
Southern Indiana tallied the first run on the heels of consecutive passed balls in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Screaming Eagles doubled their lead to 2-0 later in the frame on a sac fly by freshman
Grace Huffman.
Although UT Martin threatened in the top of the seventh inning and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate, Witthaus locked down the series-clinching win and her third shutout of Ohio Valley Conference play.
Witthaus (5-7) struck out four in the stout outing in the pitching circle. At the plate, USI collected five hits, including a two-hit game by junior outfielder
Caroline Stapleton. Senior outfielder
Kennedy Nalley had a hit and scored a run.
Kreuziger (4-5) was charged with the loss after tossing 4.1 innings in long relief, allowing two runs and striking out six.
Southern Indiana wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game two, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore outfielder
Kate Satkoski doubled to the left-center gap to drive home senior infielder
Whitley Hunter and Nalley.
USI's bats continue to click in the second inning, as a two-RBI hit by sophomore infielder
Sydney Long doubled the Eagles' advantage to 4-0.
UT Martin notched a run in the third and another in the fourth to cut USI's lead in half, but Southern Indiana held the Skyhawks right there for their only runs of the game.
The Screaming Eagles added insurance in the home half of the sixth inning when Long doubled down the right-field line to score two more runs to build USI's advantage back up to four, 6-2, and help secure the win and series sweep.
Long led USI's offense in game two with two hits and four RBIs. Sophomore catcher
Alyssa Mumaw also had a two-hit game and scored twice. Satkoski finished with the other two RBIs. Collectively, the Eagles posted 10 hits.
On the pitching side, senior pitcher
Josie Newman (8-13) picked up her second win of the series behind another complete game. The right-hander held UT Martin to two runs off six hits and struck out six batters.
After UT Martin's junior pitcher Ashtyn Green (7-9) nearly matched Newman in Thursday's series-opening pitcher's duel, the Screaming Eagles knocked Green out early in Friday's series finale. Green was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in 1.2 innings.
Following Easter weekend, the Screaming Eagles hit the road Tuesday for a midweek tilt at Butler University. First pitch Tuesday in Indianapolis, Indiana, is set for 3 p.m. CT. USI will return to Ohio Valley Conference action next weekend on the road at Southeast Missouri State University. Coverage information can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
