USI Softball projected 2nd in OVC

Newman named to 2025 OVC Softball Players to Watch List

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball is projected to place second in the Ohio Valley Conference in a vote submitted by the league’s head coaches and communication directors.

The 10-team OVC will feature a schedule with each team playing each other in one three-game series for a 27-game conference schedule from March 8 through May 4. The conference’s season concludes with the OVC Softball Championship Tournament in Peoria, Illinois May 7-10.

Reigning OVC tournament champion Southeast Missouri State University was predicted first in the OVC preseason poll with 152 points and nine first-place votes. Southern Indiana, coming off a 25-win season and fourth-place finish in the OVC last year, came in second with 140 points and six first-place votes. Reigning OVC regular-season champion Eastern Illinois University was selected third with 139 points and five first-place votes.

Tennessee State University was picked fourth with 107 points. Tennessee Tech University was slotted fifth with 82 ahead of Lindenwood University in sixth with 80 points. The University of Tennessee at Martin earned 74 points for a projected seventh-place finish ahead of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in eighth with 73 points. Morehead State University (30) and Western Illinois University (23) rounded out the preseason poll.

As part of the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason announcement, senior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) represented USI on the 2025 OVC Softball Preseason Players to Watch List. Newman heads into her senior campaign as the reigning OVC Pitcher of the Year and as a back-to-back All-OVC First Team selection.

Last season, Newman led the USI pitching staff with a 22-10 record and a 1.77 ERA in 2024. The right-hander set new career marks with 22 wins, 230 innings pitched, 230 strikeouts, and 30 complete games. The 230 innings of work were five innings shy of USI’s single-season record. Newman started 32 games in 33 appearances, tossed five shutouts, and held the opposition to a .194 batting average.

Across the OVC, Newman ranked first in wins, innings, and strikeouts as well as ranking top three in ERA. Newman struck out 10 or more batters in 11 games. The Indianapolis, Indiana native was a two-time OVC Pitcher of the Week.

Newman was also strong at the plate in 2024, hitting .344 with a home runs and 11 RBIs. Newman scored seven runs and totaled 31 hits. Throughout the season, Newman had nine multi-hit games and two multi-RBI outings.

Southern Indiana opens the 2025 season February 6-8 at the University of Hawaii Paradise Classic. USI will play three round-robin games against Saint Louis University, Santa Clara University, and the University of Hawaii before playing two seeded bracket games. Southern Indiana will begin conference play at home March 8-9 against Western Illinois from USI Softball Field.

2025 OVC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southeast Missouri (9) – 152
2. Southern Indiana (6) – 140
3. Eastern Illinois (5) – 139
4. Tennessee State – 107
5. Tennessee Tech -82
6. Lindenwood – 80
7. UT Martin – 74
8. SIUE – 73
9. Morehead State – 30
10. Western Illinois – 23

2025 OVC Softball Players to Watch
Briana Gonzalez, Eastern Illinois
Irelynn West, Lindenwood
Darlene Montoya, Morehead State
Aubrie Shore, Southeast Missouri
Josie Newman, Southern Indiana
Lauryn Yslava, SIUE
Anayah Baker-Rowell, Tennessee State
Sydney Kirby, Tennessee Tech
Kennedy Brown, UT Martin
Rylee Boone, Western Illinois