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University of Southern Indiana Athletics

20260308_SB_vs_TSU_huddle
Kelstin Galovic, USI Athletic Communications
3
Southern Ind. SOUTHERN 6-15
5
Winner Western Ill. WESTERN 6-13
Southern Ind. SOUTHERN
6-15
3
Final
5
Western Ill. WESTERN
6-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southern Ind. SOUTHERN 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 8 1
Western Ill. WESTERN 4 1 0 0 0 0 X 5 6 1

W: Libby Spaulding (4-6) L: Kemp, Anna (2-6)

Game Recap: Softball | | Preston Leinenbach, USI Athletic Communications

USI’s comeback effort falls short in series opener at Western Illinois

MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Softball tried to rally back from an early five-run deficit in the series opener at Western Illinois University on Friday, but the Screaming Eagles' comeback effort came up just short in a 5-3 loss.
 
USI Softball (6-15, 3-1 OVC) suffered its first setback in conference play with Friday's result following a conference-opening sweep last week. Meanwhile, Western Illinois (6-13, 1-2 OVC) snapped a six-game losing streak and picked up its first conference win on Friday.
 
The host Leathernecks jumped on the scoreboard early in Friday's series opener, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Western Illinois tacked on one more run on a home run in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 lead.
 
USI started its comeback effort in the top of the fourth, as freshman infielder Jadyn Tinsley led off with a double and later scored on an RBI groundout by freshman infielder Abbey Booher to make it a four-run difference.
 
The Screaming Eagles chipped away even more with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Following a one-out single by senior outfielder Caroline Stapleton, freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx drove Stapleton in with an RBI triple. In the next at-bat, junior infielder Sydney Long doubled to score Marx and make the score 5-3 Leathernecks.
 
Despite USI getting runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings, Western Illinois pitched its way out of the jams and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.
 
Stapleton and Marx each had two hits to account for half of USI's eight hits. Marx, Long, and Booher each tallied an RBI.
 
Freshman pitcher Anna Kemp (2-6) took the loss in Friday's start. Sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus came on in relief to settle things down and had a strong appearance, striking out six and allowing only two runs – one earned – in 5.2 innings of work.
 
Western Illinois starting pitcher Libby Spaulding (4-6) tossed a complete game for the win, striking out three and giving up three runs.
 
The Screaming Eagles and Leathernecks conclude their series on Saturday with a Noon doubleheader. Both games can be seen with an ESPN+ subscription. Additional coverage and live stat links are available on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
 
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