Eagles come up short in competitive final day at Hawai’i
HONOLULU – University of Southern Indiana Softball came up short in two competitive ballgames on the final day of the Hawai’i Paradise Classic on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles fell 6-0 against host University of Hawai’i and 2-1 against Saint Louis University.
The first four innings went scoreless in the first game against Hawai’i (4-0), as the starting pitchers limited the offenses and their ability to string together any hits. On Southern Indiana’s (1-4) side, freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus made her first career start and impressed in the early going.
The Eagles had an opportunity to score with a runner at third and one out in the top of the fifth but could not scratch across the run. The Rainbow Wahine took advantage in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on a pair of RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Witthaus continued to pitch well but ran into some adversity after taking a lined single off the hand in the top of the sixth. Momentum then shifted in Hawai’i’s favor, leading to four more runs and a 6-0 final score.
Senior Josie Newman and sophomore infielder Sydney Long accounted for USI’s two hits in the game. Witthaus (0-1) was charged with the loss, going 5.1 innings with four strikeouts and five runs allowed.
Hawai’i tallied six runs on six hits. Sophomore pitcher Macy Brandl picked up her second win with the two-hit shutout and six strikeouts.
In the second game of the day against Saint Louis (2-3), Southern Indiana struck first with three consecutive singles. An RBI knock from senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley scored Long and gave USI a 1-0 lead.
Newman toed the pitching rubber in the second game for the Eagles and took control early. The right-hander did not allow a hit until the third inning and totaled nine strikeouts through three innings. Following Newman’s 10th strikeout in the bottom of the fourth inning, Saint Louis tied the game at one in the next at-bat on a solo home run.
The Billikens scored once more and what proved to be the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning when a leadoff walk came around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Despite getting leadoff singles in the sixth and seventh innings, the Screaming Eagles could not push across another run. The final out of the game was a highlight diving catch on a hit that threatened the right-center gap and possibly could have scored USI’s leadoff baserunner if the ball had found the green grass in the alley.
Southern Indiana registered its one run on six hits. Junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton had two hits from the leadoff spot. Newman (1-2) took the hard-luck loss after striking out 14 and giving up just two runs on two hits in a complete six innings.
Saint Louis’ senior pitcher Taylor Hochman was credited with her second win after allowing one run with five strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Next, the Screaming Eagles will travel back to Southern Indiana and turn their focus closer to home next weekend. USI will play at the University of Evansville Softball Classic next Saturday and Sunday. Information and game times can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
