 University of Southern Indiana Softball junior first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana) went a combined 5-of-8 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs, but the No. 14 Screaming Eagles had to settle on a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader split with host Missouri University of Science & Technology Sunday afternoon.
USI (24-6, 5-3 GLVC) won the opener, 7-1, before suffering a 5-4 setback in extra innings in game two.
The Eagles, who have lost six games by one run this year, return to action Wednesday at 6 p.m. when they take on former GLVC foe Kentucky Wesleyan College in a Midwest Region doubleheader at the USI Softball Field.
Southern Indiana (24-6, 5-3 GLVC): 7, Missouri S&T (12-17, 4-4 GLVC): 1
Fossett had a double and four RBIs in USI’s opening-game win, including a two-run single in a third inning that saw the Eagles turn a scoreless tie into a commanding 4-0 advantage.
USI had five hits in the top of the third inning, including three straight to begin the frame. Sophomore second baseman Claire Johnson(Pittsboro, Indiana) had an RBI-single, then scored on Fossett’s two-run hit two batters later. Fossett scored the fourth run when senior catcher Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) was thrown out trying to steal second.
The Eagles scored three more runs in the seventh inning as a two-run double off the bat of Fossett and a run-scoring single by Hodges put USI up 7-0, giving freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) all she would need for her 13th win of the year.
Leonhardt (13-1) gave up just one run off four hits, while striking out seven batters for her 10th straight decision. The home run she gave up in the bottom of the seventh was the first run she has given up in the four GLVC games she has started in the circle.
Missouri S&T: 5, Southern Indiana: 4
After falling behind, 1-0, in the bottom of the second inning, USI roared back with three in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.
Fossett had a two-run double to put the Eagles on the board, while Hodges followed with an RBI-double to give USI the two-run lead.
Missouri S&T (12-17, 4-4 GLVC), however, countered the Eagles’ attack by loading the bases in the last half of the third inning and chasing away starting pitcher Courtney Atkisson (Bringhurst, Indiana). Sophomore utility player Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) came into the game, but surrendered two runs before getting USI out of the jam with a 3-3 tie.
Fossett’s solo shot in the fifth inning gave USI a 4-3 advantage, but a solo home run by Missouri S&T’s Savannah Fedorchack nullified the Eagles’ advantage and eventually sent the game into extra innings.
USI had a runner in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning, but failed to come away with a run. Missouri S&T, however, took advantage of a one-out double and an error to push across the game-winning run.
Bradley (3-2) was charged with the loss after giving up two runs, one earned, off seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. Leonhardt came on in the bottom of the eighth inning, but could not prevent the game-winning run from crossing the plate.
Southern Indiana 7, Missouri S&T 1 (Mar 26, 2017 at Rolla, MO) (Game 1)
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Southern Indiana…. 004 000 3 -Â 7 11Â 0Â Â Â Â Â (24-5, 5-2 GLVC)
Missouri S&T…….. 000 000 1 -Â 1Â 4Â 0Â Â Â Â Â (11-17, 3-4 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Leonhardt, Jennifer and Hodges, Haley. Missouri S&T –
English, Avery; Hill, Ashley(7) and Heckemeyer, Kelly.
Win-Leonhardt, Jennifer(13-1)Â Loss-English, Avery(6-8)Â T-1:26Â A-77
HR MST – Fedorchak, Savannah (4).
Weather: Partly Cloud, Wind RF to LF
Game: 29-MST
Missouri S&T 5, Southern Indiana 4 (Mar 26, 2017 at Rolla, MO) (Game 2)
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Southern Indiana…. 003 010 00 -Â 4 10Â 2Â Â Â Â Â (24-6, 5-3 GLVC)
Missouri S&T…….. 012 010 01 -Â 5 13Â 2Â Â Â Â Â (12-17, 4-4 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Atkisson,Courtney; Bradley, Caitlyn(3); Leonhardt, Jennifer(8) and
Hodges, Haley. Missouri S&T – Viets, Kati and Heckemeyer, Kelly.
Win-Viets, Kati(6-8)Â Loss-Bradley, Caitlyn(3-2)Â T-1:53Â A-72
HR USI – Fossett, Marleah (3).
HR MST – Fedorchak, Savannah (5).
Weather: Cloudy, Wind from RF to LF
Atkisson, C. faced 3 batters in the 3rd.
Leonhardt, J faced 1 batter in the 8th.
Game: 30-MST
