University of Southern Indiana Softball enters the final weekend of the regular season with the top seed in next week’s Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament up for grabs.
The Screaming Eagles (40-10, 19-7 GLVC), who remained No. 5 in the latest NFCA Top 25 Coaches’ poll, begins the weekend Saturday at noon with a monster showdown between the top two teams in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings as they visit the University of Missouri-St. Louis before closing the regular season Sunday at noon when they visit Maryville University.
USI remained first in the latest Midwest Region rankings, while the Tritons stayed at No. 2. Seven of the 10 spots in this week’s rankings were held by GLVC teams.
Both USI and Missouri-St. Louis are in the running for the top seed in the GLVC Tournament. The Eagles are currently tied with Rockhurst University, while the Tritons are percentage points behind with a 17-7 conference record.
USI Softball Notes
- Eagles split final home weekend.USI Softball went 2-2 to close out its 2017 regular-season home schedule as it split doubleheaders against Truman State and Quincy. Junior outfielder Olivia Clark-Kittlesonhit .583 to lead the Eagles at the plate, while senior shortstop Lexi Reese posted a .467 batting average, a home run and a team-high five RBIs.
- Big comeback.USI rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the last half of the seventh inning to earn an 8-7 win in game one against Quincy. The Eagles scored six times in the seventh; then got a walk-off, RBI-single by junior third baseman Mena Fulton in the ninth to earn the win. It marked the second time this year USI has overcome a deficit of five or more runs in the seventh inning to force extra frames—USI scored five in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings against William Jewell earlier this year.
- 30 games above .500.USI is at least 30 games above .500 for the first time since 2015 and the third time in program history. The Eagles were 31 games above .500 during the final weekend of the regular season in 2015 and were a program-best 32 games above .500 late in the 1998 season.
- 40-win plateau.USI cracked the 40-win plateau for the second time in program history and the first time since going 48-17 in 1998.
- Eagles continue to hold top spot in regional rankings.USI continues to hold the top spot in the latest NCAA II Midwest Region rankings. The Eagles are one of seven GLVC teams in this week’s poll and one of six in the top eight.
- USI holds its ground at No. 5 in NFCA Top 25. The Eagles remained No. 5 in the latest NFCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll after going 1-1 last week—the poll does not reflect Monday’s games against Quincy. USI is the only GLVC team in this week’s national rankings, though Missouri-St. Louis is receiving votes.
- NCAA Power Rankings.USI Softball has been noticed by the NCAA as the Eagles are sitting at No. 12 in the latest NCAA Division II Power Rankings. USI was No. 7 a week ago.
- USI perfect against Top 25.USI is 5-0 against teams in the Top 25 this year. The Eagles began the year with a doubleheader sweep of defending NCAA II champion and No. 1-ranked North Alabama and had a 5-0 win over then No. 7 Grand Valley State at The Spring Games. They also swept No. 14 Indianapolis two weeks ago.
- Hodges earns USI Athletics, top honor.Senior catcher Haley Hodgeswas named the Old National Bank/USI Female Student Athlete of the Year; marking the second straight year she has been recognized with the honor after sharing the award with cross country/track & field standout Emily Roberts a year ago. Junior first baseman Marleah Fossett and freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt also were among the student-athletes being considered for this year’s award.
- Single-season marks in jeopardy. Freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardthas a shot to break Amy Stetler’s single-season school records for wins (25) and shutouts (13) this year. Leonhardt has racked up 23 wins and 10 shutouts with a week to go in the regular season and likely at least two weekends in the post-season—USI has already clinched a GLVC Tournament spot and is a virtual lock for the NCAA II post-season.
- Shake it off.USI’s pitching staff is looking to bounce back from a rough weekend that saw the Eagles’ post a 4.67 ERA and a .344 opponent batting average. Sophomore Caitlyn Bradleywent 1-1 with a team-best 3.13 ERA and .302 opponent batting average, while freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt had a 1-0 record with an 8.59 ERA and a .429 opponent batting average. Despite the rough weekend, the Eagles still boast the conference’s top pitching staff with a 1.76 ERA and .226 opponent batting average.
