The Screaming Eagles (30-14, 16-4 GLVC) earned an 8-0 win in five innings over the Miners in game one; then rallied for a 3-2 victory over Missouri S&T in the nightcap.
Game 1
Sophomore outfielder Alicia Webb (Elberfeld, Indiana) had an RBI-single in the bottom of the first inning to get the scoring going for the Eagles. USI scored three more times in the third and four times in the fifth to secure the victory via the eight-run rule.
Webb and junior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) each drove in runs in the third frame, while an RBI-double by sophomore first baseman Haley Shouse (Borden, Indiana) put USI up, 4-0.
The Eagles took advantage of four S&T errors in the fifth inning to score their four runs. Senior outfielder/pitcher Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) had an RBI-double, while Shouse and senior catcher Lindsey Barr (Whitesville, Kentucky) each had RBIs in the inning.
Leonhardt (18-5) earned the win in the circle for the Eagles after scattering four hits throughout five innings of work. She struck out eight batters en route to her 11th complete-game shutout of the season.
Game 2
Missouri S&T (13-27, 7-11 GLVC) scored twice in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Eagles.
USI, however, got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-double by senior second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana), while a two-out, two-run single by Leonhardt in the bottom of the sixth inning put the Eagles in front, 3-2.
Senior pitcher Haylee Smith (Florence, Kentucky) got the start for the Eagles as she gave up the two runs off six hits in three-and-a-third innings of work. Bradley (6-5) picked up the win after blanking the Miners on two hits in three-and-two-thirds inning of relief ball.
Seniors honored
USI’s senior class—Barr, Bradley, Johnson and Smith—were honored following the conclusion of game two. The quartet has helped lead USI to a 152-72 overall record, 74-33 in GLVC play, throughout the last four years and have been a part of two Midwest Region championship teams as well as the 2018 national championship squad.
