INDIANAPOLIS—Freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) scattered two runs and eight hits throughout 11.2 innings of work to lead the No. 10 University of Southern Indiana softball team to a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep of No. 14 University of Indianapolis Sunday.
Leonhardt (20-1) earned a pair of wins, including a complete-game shutout in USI’s 4-0, game-one victory, while sophomore utility player Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) had a three-run home run and a save in USI’s 5-2 win in the nightcap.
USI (34-8, 13-5 GLVC) returns to action Friday at noon when it hosts the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at the USI Softball Field.
Game 1 | Southern Indiana 4, Indianapolis 0
In a battle between two of the top pitchers in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, it was Leonhardt who came out victorious thanks to a dominating performance in the circle and some timely hits in the fifth and sixth innings.
Leonhardt allowed just two hits and struck out 10 batters as she earned her ninth complete-game shutout of the year.
USI broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning as a one-out double by sophomore second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana) followed by an RBI-single by senior shortstop Lexi Reese (Lebanon, Indiana) put the Eagles up 1-0.
An RBI-double by Bradley in the sixth frame followed by a two-run single by junior outfielder Olivia Clark-Kittleson (Carbondale, Illinois) staked USI to a commanding 4-0 advantage.
UIndy freshman sensation Lauren Honkomp (20-5) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, off six hits in seven innings of work.
Game 2 | Southern Indiana 5, Indianapolis 2
Following a dominating performance in game one, Leonhardt returned to the circle in the nightcap in hopes of continuing that effort.
Indianapolis (29-13, 10-8 GLVC), however, had a home run and three hits in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead over USI.
The Eagles responded in the top of the second inning as Bradley hit her second home run of the weekend and fifth of the season, this a three-run shot, to give USI a 3-1 edge.
USI took advantage of a two-out error in the seventh to tack on two more runs. Junior third baseman Mena Fulton (Bloomington, Indiana) drove in a run when she reached on an error, while freshman outfielder Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky) followed with an RBI-single to stake USI to a 5-2 advantage.
Leonhardt (20-1) earned the win after giving up two runs off six hits in 4.2 innings of work, while Bradley came on in the fifth inning to get the Eagles out of a jam. Bradley earned her second save of the year after pitching back-to-back scoreless innings to end the contest.
Southern Indiana 4, Indianapolis 0 (Apr 09, 2017 at Indianapolis, IN) (Game 1)
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Southern Indiana…. 000 013 0 -Â 4Â 6Â 0Â Â Â Â Â (33-8, 12-5 GLVC)
Indianapolis…….. 000 000 0 -Â 0Â 2Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (29-12, 10-7 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Leonhardt, Jennifer and Hodges, Haley. Indianapolis –
Honkomp, Lauren and Turner, Dani; Liceaga, Julia; Beckwith, Samantha.
Win-Leonhardt, Jennifer(19-1)Â Loss-Honkomp, Lauren(20-5)Â T-1:38 PMÂ A-237
Weather: Splendid
Game: 41-UINDY
Southern Indiana 5, Indianapolis 2 (Apr 09, 2017 at Indianapolis, IN) (Game 2)
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Southern Indiana…. 030 000 2 -Â 5 11Â 0Â Â Â Â Â (34-8, 13-5 GLVC)
Indianapolis…….. 100 010 0 -Â 2Â 6Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (29-13, 10-8 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Leonhardt, Jennifer; Bradley, Caitlyn(5) and Hodges, Haley.
Indianapolis – Rhodes, Jamie; Sicard, Crystal(2); Honkomp, Lauren(7) and Liceaga, Julia.
Win-Leonhardt, Jennifer(20-1)Â Save-Bradley, Caitlyn(2)Â Loss-Rhodes, Jamie(0-1)Â T-4:02 PMÂ A-237
HR USI – Bradley, Caitlyn.
HR UINDY – Noone, Jessie; Turner, Dani.
Weather: Splendid
Game: 42-UINDY
