EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball won its series opener against the University of Tennessee at Martin, 6-4, on Saturday behind a four-RBI afternoon by senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) and a 10-strikeout, complete game from sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana).
Â
With the win, Southern Indiana improved to 11-14 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which is good for a fourth-place tie after Saturday’s action. UT Martin dropped to 11-15 this season and 4-5 in OVC play.
Â
In the bottom of the first inning, USI’s offense started out with back-to-back bunt singles. With two on and no outs, Goodin rocketed a two-RBI double to the gap, scoring both runners. Goodin scored later in the inning after a throwing error by UT Martin. USI led 3-0 after one.
Â
USI led off the third inning with consecutive singles. After a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position, senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) recorded a sacrifice RBI to give USI a 4-0 lead.
Â
Meanwhile, Newman was cruising in the circle. The sophomore started the game by retiring the first 11 Skyhawks, five of which came via the strikeout. With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, UT Martin broke into the hit column with a double.
Â
UT Martin went on to cut into USI’s lead with three runs in the fourth inning, including two off a home run. All three runs were unearned after an error earlier in the inning. Two innings later, the Skyhawks tied the game, 4-4, on a solo home run in the sixth.
Â
The Screaming Eagles answered in the bottom of the sixth inning. After three walks loaded the bases with one out, Goodin delivered again with a hard hit to left field to drive in a pair and put USI back up, 6-4.
Â
Newman closed out the complete game in the seventh inning with her 10th strikeout of the contest and by stranding a leadoff baserunner. The outing was Newman’s ninth complete game of the season, as she moved to 9-6 in 2023. Along with 10 strikeouts, the right-hander allowed only one earned run and three hits. Newman is approaching 100 strikeouts on the season, sitting at 98, which is good for top-50 in the nation.
Â
Offensively, Goodin led USI with three hits and four RBIs, increasing her season RBI total to 20 to pace the squad. Goodin’s .462 batting average through Saturday tops the team and is inside the top-20 in the nation. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) also had a solid day at the plate with a couple of hits and two runs.
Â
For UT Martin, junior Kierston Nixon started in the circle, lasted only two innings, and gave up four runs – three earned. The loss went to junior Katie Dreiling, dropping her record to 6-4 after tossing the last four innings with five strikeouts and two runs surrendered.
Â
The Screaming Eagles and Skyhawks will continue the weekend series Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Sunday’s games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
