University of Southern Indiana Softball finishes the 2018 regular season schedule this weekend as it hosts the University of Missouri-St. Louis Saturday at noon at the USI Softball Field and No. 25 McKendree University for Senior Day Sunday at noon.
To start, USI can clinch a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament, which is May 3-5 in East Peoria, Illinois. Secondly, the Screaming Eagles can improve their positioning for a potential at-large bid in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament.
USI (25-20, 13-11 GLVC) also can secure Head Coach Sue Kunkle‘s 500th career win with three victories this weekend and send one of USI’s most successful senior classes out on a high note.
All four games this weekend will be streamed on the GLVC Sports Network, while live stats and GLVCSN links can be found at GoUSIEagles.com.
USI Softball Notes
• Recapping last week. USI Softball went 2-4 last week, including 1-3 in GLVC play. USI lost a 3-0 lead in its 4-3 loss to Kentucky Wesleyan before seeing a 1-0 lead slip away in a 2-1 loss in game one against Drury. The Eagles also led 2-0 and 3-1 in their 4-3 loss to Drury in game two.
• Last week’s leaders. Senior third baseman Mena Fulton had an outstanding week for the Eagles at the plate, hitting .647 (11-17) with three runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs. Sophomore pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt hit .333 with three runs scored and was 1-2 with a 1.94 ERA, 27 strikeouts and a .200 opponent batting average. Junior pitcher Haylee Smith was 1-1 with a 0.75 ERA and a .257 opponent batting average in the circle last week.
• Season leaders (at the plate). Fulton has taken over the team lead in batting average (.366) and doubles (10), while her three home runs and 19 RBIs are both fourth on the team. Sophomore outfielder Allison Schubert is hitting .350 with nine doubles, a triple, 11 home runs and 34 RBIs, while junior second baseman Claire Johnson is hitting .318 with six doubles, six triples, four home runs and 19 RBIs. Junior outfielder/pitcher Caitlyn Bradley also has five doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs.
• Season leaders (in the circle). Leonhardt continues to lead the Eagles with a 13-10 overall record, a 2.91 ERA, a .217 opponent batting average and 163 strikeouts on the year. Smith is 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA, while junior pitcher Courtney Atkisson is 7-5 with a 3.39 ERA and a .295 opponent batting average.
• USI vs. GLVC-only competition. Fulton is hitting a blistering .413 with seven doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs in GLVC play this year; while Leonhardt is 9-4 with a 2.25 ERA and a GLVC-best 100 strikeouts and .196 opponent batting average.
