University of Southern Indiana Softball forged a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader split with host Saint Joseph’s College Saturday afternoon. The No. 10 Screaming Eagles suffered a 4-1 setback in the opener before earning a 5-2 win in game two.
USI (32-8, 11-5 GLVC) returns to action Sunday at 11 a.m. (CDT) when it visits No. 14 University of Indianapolis.
Game 1 | Saint Joseph’s 4, Southern Indiana 1
Saint Joseph’s (12-21, 5-11 GLVC) scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
USI got a run back in the third frame with an RBI-single from junior designated player Alex Logan (Carleton, Michigan), but that was as close as the Eagles would get as they stranded 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the top of the first inning.
The setback marks the first time this year that USI has lost a game by more than one run and is the first time that the Eagles have not won game one of a doubleheader.
Sophomore lefty Courtney Atkisson (Bringhurst, Indiana) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs off three hits in less than an inning of work. Atkisson (10-5) gave way to sophomore Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana), who came on to hold the Pumas scoreless throughout 5.1 innings of action.
Game 2 | Southern Indiana 5, Saint Joseph’s 2
After USI and Saint Joseph’s traded tallies in the third inning, a two-run home run off the bat of Bradley gave the Eagles a 3-1 edge in the top of the fourth frame.
An RBI-double by senior catcher Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) in the fifth pushed in senior shortstop Lexi Reese (Lebanon, Indiana) for a 4-1 cushion, while an RBI-single by senior outfielder Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) gave USI a 5-2 edge in the seventh. Reese’s sacrifice fly in the third scored USI’s first run of the contest.
Freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) earned the win after giving up two runs off six hits in seven innings of work. Leonhardt (18-1) allowed three walks, but racked up nine strikeouts for her 15th consecutive win.
Saint Joseph’s (IN) 4, Southern Indiana 1 (Apr 08, 2017 at Rensselaer, IN) (Game 1)
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Southern Indiana…. 001 000 0 -Â 1Â 7Â 2Â Â Â Â Â (31-8, 10-5 GLVC)
Saint Joseph’s (IN). 400 000 X -Â 4Â 5Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (12-20, 5-10 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Atkisson,Courtney; Bradley, Caitlyn(1) and Hodges, Haley.
Saint Joseph’s (IN) – Masters, Morgam and Antczak, Amber.
Win-Masters, Morgam(4-4)Â Loss-Atkisson,Courtney(10-5)Â T-1hr 45Â A-85
Weather: 61 degrees, sunny, and windy
Game: 39-SJC
Southern Indiana 5, Saint Joseph’s (IN) 2 (Apr 08, 2017 at Rensselaer, IN) (Game 2)
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Southern Indiana…. 001 210 1 -Â 5Â 9Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (32-8, 11-5 GLVC)
Saint Joseph’s (IN). 001 001 0 -Â 2Â 6Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (12-21, 5-11 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Leonhardt, Jennifer and Hodges, Haley. Saint Joseph’s (IN) –
Melzoni, Amanda and Antczak, Amber.
Win-Leonhardt, Jennifer(18-1)Â Loss-Melzoni, Amanda(5-10)Â T-1hr 30Â A-85
HR USI – Bradley, Caitlyn (4).
Weather: 63 sunny
Game: 40-SJC
