Eagles capture 4-0 win to split pair of games Tuesday

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – University of Southern Indiana Softball (5-9) split its pair of contests at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida on Tuesday, capturing a 4-0 win against Creighton University after the Screaming Eagles fell Tuesday morning to Central Michigan University, 5-1.
 
The win Tuesday afternoon against Creighton snapped a four-game skid for USI. The offense also found a bit of a spark in the afternoon victory, as it was the first time USI scored more than two runs in a game since February 19 against the University of Evansville.
 
Southern Indiana began the day with a rematch against Central Michigan, who captured a 9-0 win against USI on Sunday. The Chippewas picked up where they left off on Sunday by scoring Tuesday’s first run in the first inning.
 
After a 1-2-3 second inning in the circle from senior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana), Goodin helped her own cause in the batter’s box in the top of the third inning. The senior hit a two-out RBI single to score junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) to tie the game, 1-1. Goodin finished with a pair of hits in the morning contest.
 
Central Michigan responded in the bottom of the third frame with two solo home runs to go back in front, 3-1. The Chippewas added two runs in the fourth inning to grab a 5-1 advantage. USI threatened in the top of the fifth by getting a runner to third base but could not score.
 
Goodin went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs – four earned – off seven hits. Her record is 0-4 after the loss. Freshman pitcher Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched the last 2.1 innings scoreless with three strikeouts.
 
Central Michigan’s Madelyn Wallace picked up her second consecutive win against USI, moving to 3-1 on the season. Wallace surrendered one run on four hits and three walks in five innings on Tuesday.
 
Facing off against Creighton in the second game of the day, USI and sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) got off to a solid start. Even though the Bluejays had a player reach base in each of the first two innings, Newman did not allow either to advance past first base. Newman fanned six batters in the first three innings.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) provided USI with a pair of insurance runs on a two-run home run, her first of the season, to increase the Screaming Eagles’ lead to 4-0. Fair’s big fly came after a leadoff single from Goodin. Fair led USI with 13 home runs in 2022.
 
Newman completed the game to earn her third shutout and second one-hitter of the season. The right-hander picked up the win to improve to 4-4 on the year. Newman struck out nine Bluejays in the seven innings of work.
 
Creighton’s sophomore pitcher Alexis Wiggins took the loss, dropping to 2-4 this season. Wiggins went five innings, giving up three runs off five hits and a couple of walks.