MEMPHIS – University of Southern Indiana Softball split its first two games at the University of Memphis 901 Classic on Friday, which included the Screaming Eagles' first win of the season in the opener. USI (1-5) won 7-3 on Friday morning against the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2-4) before dropping a 9-5 battle against Ball State University (3-3) during the afternoon.
 
In Friday's morning matinee against Kansas City, USI broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning with a four-spot on the scoreboard. The Eagles took advantage of multiple misplays by the Roos. USI then increased its lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning.
 
Despite Kansas City breaking through for three runs between the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, USI halted the momentum and went on to claim the 7-3 result for the Screaming Eagles' first win of the 2026 season.
 
The top two of USI's batting order, senior outfielder Caroline Stapleton and freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx, combined for five of USI's eight hits. Stapleton had three hits, and Marx had two hits, while both scored twice. Junior infielder Sydney Long also scored twice and tallied an RBI.
 
On the pitching side, freshman pitcher Anna Kemp (1-1) recorded her first career win after going 4.2 innings with four strikeouts, allowing three runs and only one earned. Kemp's counterpart, UMKC's Alyssa Droge (0-1), suffered the loss after giving up three runs and one earned in only two innings pitched.
 
In the afternoon game against Ball State, the Cardinals scored first in the top of the first inning with a run, but USI answered right away in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one after an RBI knock by sophomore first baseman Grace Huffman. Huffman later tied the game again at two with an RBI sac fly in the bottom of the third.
 
Ball State then scored three unanswered runs between the top of the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-2 lead. The Screaming Eagles fought back to pull within one, 5-4, in the bottom of the fifth off back-to-back sac flies from Huffman and junior outfielder Kate Satkoski.
 
Remaining a one-run ballgame going into the seventh inning, Ball State struck for four runs in the top half and limited USI to one run in the bottom half of the seventh to close out the contest.
 
The top of USI's batting order was strong again in the second game, as the top three had seven of USI's 10 hits. Stapleton posted a pair of hits with three runs scored. Marx collected her first career three-hit game. Long also registered a pair of hits. Huffman notched a career-best three RBIs.
 
Freshman pitcher Elly Robbins (0-3) was dealt the loss with five runs allowed. Ball State's Bridie Murphy (1-1) got the win after five innings of work and surrendered four runs with three earned.
 
The Screaming Eagles get back on the field for another set of games on Saturday at the Memphis 901 Classic. USI will face crosstown foe University of Evansville at 11 a.m. before a 5 p.m. contest against Miami University (Ohio).
 
Coverage and live stat links are available on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.