COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Softball picked up a doubleheader split at Tennessee Tech University on Saturday afternoon behind a 3-0 shutout from freshman pitcher Anna Kemp in game two, following a narrow 4-3 loss in the series opener.
 
USI Softball (12-22, 9-8 OVC) started a two-week road swing in Ohio Valley Conference play with Saturday's twin bill at Tennessee Tech (14-23, 11-6 OVC).
 
Tennessee Tech grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first game on Saturday, but USI answered in the third and fourth innings. Junior catcher Alyssa Mumaw tied the game at one in the third inning on a sac fly. Then the Screaming Eagles went in front, 3-1, in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Lilly Brown and an RBI double from senior outfielder Caroline Stapleton.
 
However, the Golden Eagles scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead, 4-3. Despite USI putting the potential go-ahead run in scoring position in the top of the seventh inning, Tennessee Tech pitched out of the situation to close out the series opener.
 
Sophomore designated player Grace Huffman, Stapleton, and Brown each had two hits, combining for six of USI's eight total hits.
 
In the pitching circle, sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus took a no-decision, totaling 5.1 innings of work with three strikeouts and three runs allowed. Freshman pitcher Elly Robbins (5-7) suffered the loss, pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief and allowing one run.
 
Tennessee Tech's Faith Rush (3-1) recorded the win after three shutout frames with four strikeouts in relief.
 
In game two, USI struck first in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Mumaw to give the Screaming Eagles an early 1-0 advantage. Mumaw delivered again with an RBI single in the top of the third before an RBI single from junior outfielder Kate Satkoski extended USI's lead to 3-0.
 
From there, it was all Kemp in control on the pitching rubber. The freshman right-hander pitched around a few Golden Eagles baserunners in each of the last three innings, but went on to secure the shutout victory.
 
Kemp (4-9) finished with three strikeouts and surrendered only five hits in the effort.
 
Offensively, USI tallied eight hits again, with freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx, Mumaw, and Huffman posting two-hit games to combine for six of the eight team hits. Mumaw finished with two RBIs as well.
 
Tennessee Tech starting pitcher Emily York (7-11) also went the distance, striking out five and giving three runs – two earned.
 
The Screaming Eagles and Golden Eagles settle the series in a rubber match on Sunday at Noon from Cookeville, Tennessee. The series finale can be seen with an ESPN+ subscription. The Spin 95.7 FM will have radio coverage. Additional coverage and live stat links are available on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.