EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball opened its home and Ohio Valley Conference schedule on Sunday with a doubleheader sweep over Tennessee State University, winning 10-4 in the series opener before a 6-5 walk-off winner in nine innings in the second game at USI Softball Field.
 
USI Softball (5-14, 2-0 OVC) snapped a five-game losing streak with the series-opening win, while Tennessee State (0-12, 0-2 OVC) remained winless after Sunday's games.
 
The Screaming Eagles got rolling early in the series opener, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx, sophomore first baseman Grace Huffman, and junior outfielder Kate Satkoski each recorded RBI hits in the inning, while junior Angelia Davis drove in a run on a sac fly.
 
After Tennessee State answered with three runs in the top of the second to pull back within one, 4-3, USI responded with another four-spot in the bottom of the third. As part of the four-run third, Davis notched an RBI single for her second RBI of the game.
 
Leading 8-3, the Screaming Eagles tacked on another run in the fourth, off Davis' third RBI of the contest, and another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Marx to grab a 10-3 advantage. USI limited the Tigers to one run in the late innings to seal the game-one victory.
 
The Screaming Eagles totaled seven hits in the series opener. Marx led with two hits and also collected a pair of RBIs. Davis finished with a three-RBI performance.
 
In the pitching circle, sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus (2-4) had a solid outing to earn the win, going 5.1 innings with six strikeouts and allowing only two earned runs off eight hits.
 
Tennessee State's Kristian Holder (0-5) suffered the loss in the start for the Tigers, lasting only 2.1 innings and surrendering six runs, five earned.
 
In game two, USI jumped out to a 4-0 lead through five innings of action, and freshman pitcher Anna Kemp made the start for the Eagles and was in cruise control.
 
Kemp and USI faced some adversity in the sixth inning when Tennessee State cut the lead in half, 4-2, with a two-run home run.
 
Then, in the top of the seventh inning, the Tigers continued to rally and scored three runs to go in front, 5-4. However, the Screaming Eagles battled back themselves, scoring the tying run after getting runners on base and crossing home plate on a passed ball. The game went into extra innings for USI's first extra-inning game of the season.
 
After stranding a runner at third in the bottom of the eighth inning, USI capitalized on its opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning. Following back-to-back one-out singles by freshman infielder Jadyn Tinsley and Satkoski, freshman infielder Abbey Booher placed a ball into the left-center gap to score Tinsley from second base and give USI a 6-5 walk-off victory. It was Booher's first career walk-off hit.
 
USI had 11 hits in game two. Huffman, junior catcher Alyssa Mumaw, and Tinsley each had two-hit games at the plate. Tinsley also scored three runs. Satkoski registered a three-hit performance. Booher ended up with two RBIs, including the game-winning RBI knock.
 
Kemp took a no-decision following a strong start, striking out five and allowing only two earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. Freshman pitcher Elly Robbins (2-5), who came in relief of Kemp in the seventh inning, picked up the win. Robbins struck out three in the final 2.1 innings.
 
For the Tigers, starting pitcher Chelsi Ervin also took a no-decision after giving up three runs in four innings pitched. Tianna Salcido (0-6) was dealt the loss after allowing three runs in 4.1 innings in relief.
 
The OVC series between the Tigers and Screaming Eagles from USI Softball Field concludes Monday at Noon. The game can be seen with an ESPN+ subscription. Additional coverage and live stat links are available on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.