BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Softball nearly concluded its trip to the University of Alabama Birmingham Green and Gold Classic with a comeback victory on Saturday, but the Screaming Eagles narrowly fell 4-3 against UAB after a 12-0 setback earlier in the day against Purdue University.
USI (1-8) started the day facing its first-ever Big Ten Conference opponent Purdue (7-5). Like Friday’s games at the Green and Gold Classic, the first inning was a thorn in the side of the Screaming Eagles. The Boilermakers quickly grabbed a 1-0 lead after a triple and single to start the contest. Purdue scored twice more in the top of the first inning to go up 3-0.
After scoreless second and third innings, Purdue tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth and another pair in the fifth inning to increase its advantage to 7-0. Then the Boilermakers struck for five runs in the sixth to seal the game.
Senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley had one of USI’s two hits that went for a double. Senior pitcher Josie Newman (1-4) struck out three in five innings, giving up seven runs – five earned – in the start.
Purdue totaled 13 hits toward its 12 runs. Sophomore pitcher Julia Gossett (2-4) struck out five in the two-hit shutout.
In the midday matchup against UAB, Southern Indiana flipped the tournament tides and struck first in the first inning. Following a leadoff single and stolen base by junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton, sophomore infielder Sydney Long singled down the right-field line to score Stapleton and give USI the quick 1-0 lead. However, UAB answered with three runs – two unearned – in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-1 advantage.
The Blazers increased their lead to 4-1 in the home half of the third thanks to three singles in the frame.
The Eagles came right back in the top of the fifth. Two singles brought Nalley up to the plate with a chance to deliver an RBI knock. Nalley came through with a two-RBI double to deep centerfield that brought USI back within one, 4-3.
Meanwhile, freshman starting pitcher Kylie Witthaus continued to get stronger into the late innings. The left-hander posted zeroes in innings four through six to give USI a chance going into the top of the seventh inning.
After two sharp outs to begin the seventh, USI targeted a two-out rally. Nalley singled to the left side to reach base as the potential game-tying run and extending the game to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate. However, the Blazers were able to induce a final groundout to close out the contest.
Southern Indiana finished with three runs on seven hits. The top three in the batting order for USI – Stapleton, Nalley and Long – each registered two-hit games. Stapleton had two runs, Nalley collected two RBIs with the double, and Long also had an RBI. Freshman first baseman Lilly Brown added a hit and a run to the USI line score.
Witthaus (0-3) tossed her first career complete game, striking out one and giving up four runs – two earned – in six innings pitched.
UAB notched four runs on eight hits. Sophomore pitcher Caroline McLendon (4-0) remained undefeated for the Blazers after striking out four and allowing three runs in a complete seven innings pitched.
