EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball moved up three spots to No. 17 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Division II Top 25 poll.
 
The Screaming Eagles (30-8, 16-0 GLVC), who have won a program-record tying 18 straight games, return to action Friday at 11 a.m. (CDT) when they visit No. 5 University of Indianapolis in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader.
 
UIndy (34-4, 14-2 GLVC), which has won 10 straight games, is currently second in the GLVC standings behind USI. The Greyhounds are the only other GLVC team in this week’s rankings, while No. 24 Grand Valley State University was the only other NCAA II Midwest Region Team in the rankings.
 
Following Friday’s games in Indianapolis, USI returns to the USI Softball Field to begin a six-game homestand Saturday at noon when it hosts McKendree University.
 
All four games this weekend will be aired on the GLVC Sports Network as well as 95.7 The Spin, while live stats, audio and video links can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
 
USI Softball Notes
• Eagles back to 30-win plateau. USI Softball cracked the 30-win plateau for the first time since 2019 and the seventh time in the last 10 years. The Eagles were on pace to crack the 30-win plateau in 2020, winning 15 of their first 19 games before COVID-19 canceled the remainder of their season. The Eagles have reached the 30-win plateau 12 times under Head Coach Sue Kunkle and 19 times in program history.
 
• USI off to best GLVC start in program history. The Eagles 16-0 start to GLVC play is the best open to league play in program history. Dating back to 2021, the Eagles have won 17 straight GLVC games, which is the longest such streak in program history.
 
• Walk-off wins. The Eagles have had nine walk-off victories in the last at-bat this season, including five that have been in the seventh-inning or later and three that have been in extra innings. Four of the walk-off wins have given the Eagles victory via the eight-run rule.
 
• Win streak. USI’s 18-game winning streak matches the program record, which was set during the 2005 season. USI followed an 0-8 start to the 2005 season with 18 straight wins.
 
• Eagles in extra innings. USI is 5-1 in extra-inning games this season, including 3-0 in GLVC play.
 
 • Newman named Pitcher of the Week. Freshman pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was named the GLVC Pitcher of the Week for her efforts in USI’s wins over Drury University and Southwest Baptist University last weekend. She allowed just one hit in two appearances and 12.0 innings of work as she went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and .026 opponent batting average.
 
• Newman putting together impressive run. Newman has racked up three consecutive complete-game shutouts and has allowed just three hits during that span. She has not given up a run in the last 19 1/3 innings of work.
 
• Hitting Streaks. Sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) has hit safely in eight straight games after having a team-high tying 11-game hitting streak earlier in the year. Junior pitcher/designated player Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) has hit safely in six straight games.
 
• Bean drives in seven. Senior third baseman Mary Bean (Schaumburg, Illinois) drove in seven runs in USI’s doubleheader sweep of Southwest Baptist Sunday, including a career-high six RBI in USI’s game-two victory. Bean is the second Eagle this season to drive in six runs in a single game as junior shortstop Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) had six RBI, all in one inning, in USI’s 16-2 win over Truman State University last month.
 

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team finished off their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) bye week with a showdown against NJCAA Division I Kaskaskia College at Jerry Blemker Field Tuesday night and dropped the nine-inning game 13-6.

The Trailblazers looked to get a few players back from injuries and get their bullpen ready for a four-game conference series against Heartland College this weekend.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a big early lead after scoring three runs in the first, three runs in the second and two in the third to take an 8-0 lead.

Vincennes got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning in a big way with a two-run home run by sophomore Peyton Lane (New Paris, Ohio), who returned to the lineup after being in concussion protocol.

Vincennes would get another RBI by sophomore Josiah Sizemore (Cambridge City, Ind.) on a hit by pitch to cut the deficit to 8-3.

The two teams traded two-run innings in the fifth with VU scoring on a walk by freshman Jordan Roth (Delphi, Ind.) and a fielder’s choice by Sizemore.

Sizemore would pick up a third RBI on the day in the seventh with an RBI single to keep the Trailblazers within five runs of Kaskaskia.

The Blue Devils would add a pair of insurance runs in the ninth and come away with the 13-6 win over the Trailblazers.

Vincennes used 10 different pitchers Tuesday, as VU looked to get some of their relief pitchers time on the mound ahead of the return to conference play this weekend.

Freshman Jake Stuteville (Rockport, Ind.) took the mound to start the game for VU and was on a pitch limit as he is returning from injury. Stuteville retired one batter in the game and surrendered three runs on two hits.

Vincennes got some big outs on the mound from freshman Eli Steimel (Sullivan, Ind.) who threw one inning, while allowing four runs on three hits.

Freshman Nick Kapostasy (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Luke Osborn (Perrysville, Ind.) and Braedon Nichols (Sullivan, Ind.) combined to close out the final two innings of play for the Trailblazers.

The trio allowed two runs on two hits and struck out four batters on the mound for Vincennes.

“It starts on the bump and obviously we didn’t get it done with the first couple of guys that ran out there,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “We had a couple of guys that still threw well; Steimel threw well, even though it doesn’t show up in the stats. Then towards the end Luke Osborn and Nick Kapostasy threw well.”

“We’ve got to do a better job on the mound,” Barney added. “Our guys have to get in the zone early instead of falling behind early and hopefully we can do that going forward.”

VU got a big day at the plate from freshman third baseman Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) who finished with four hits on five at bats, including a double and a run scored.

Sophomore Connor VanLannen (Clinton, Ind.) came away with three hits on the day, including a double and a pair of runs scored.

“Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) did a great job in the lead-off spot to get three hits,” Barney said. “Peyton Lane had two hits and hit the last ball really well, it just got caught. Evans had four hits, Roth picked up an RBI and Josiah Sizemore had three RBI’s today.”

“We’ve got to continue that and hopefully start stringing it together and coming up with some timely hitting,” Barney added. “If we can do that, we will be very competitive.”

Vincennes look to make a strong return to MWAC Conference play this weekend as the Trailblazers travel to Bloomington, Ill. to face-off against Heartland College.

The Hawks currently sit on top of the MWAC Conference standings with a perfect 16-0 start to their conference schedule.

The first two games of the four-game series will be played on Friday, April 15, with the final two games set for Saturday, April 16. First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m. eastern.

“We’ve got to get some quality starts out of our pitching,” Barney said. “That’s the bottom line. It all starts on the mound and that’s where those guys have to step up. Once they do, we will be pretty solid because we can swing it a little bit and we’ve played pretty decent defense, we didn’t play great defense tonight, but we’ve been pretty decent this season.”

“But it’s going to be a challenge, playing at Heartland,” Barney added. “A team that’s 16-0 right now in conference. It’s going to be a battle, so we’re looking forward to it.”

ROBINSON, Ill. – Vincennes University sophomore and 2021 NJCAA National Qualifier Bryce Kirchner (North Vernon, Ind.) came away with the top-spot on the leaderboard at Monday’s Lincoln Trail Spring Invitational golf tournament at Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson.

Kirchner finished with a very consistent 36-hole tournament, ending with a 74 in round one, before rallying up the leaderboard with a 74 in round two.

“Bryce had a great performance, winning the tournament by two shots,” VU Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said. “Bryce played great Monday and was three under par in his second round and still finished with a two-shot win. Bryce has been working very hard at his game and is deserving of the win.”

Freshman Paxton Schwomeyer (Oakland City, Ind.) looked to get back on track Monday, finishing in the top-ten with an eighth-place 159.

Schwomeyer was very consistent as well on Monday, with an opening round 79 and a second round 80.

Freshman Luke VanDeventer (Columbus, Ind.) was a third VU scorer in the top-ten, finishing in a tie for ninth with a 160 on the day, with a first round 79 and an 81 final round.

Freshman Caleb Newman (Vincennes, ind.) was the fourth VU scorer, ending with an opening round 83 and a final round 84, good for a tie for 15th place overall.

Freshman Sam Stewart (Floyds Knob, Ind.) was the fifth and final VU golfer on the course Monday, with Stewart starting out very well with an opening round 80 before coming back with a final round 91.

“We continue having problems with getting that fourth score improved and consistent,” Chattin added.

Vincennes as a team finished third, just five shots behind second-place Danville Area and 10 shots behind host Lincoln Trail College with a team score of 627.

The Trailblazers will look to continue their good momentum into their next tournament Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 when VU hosts the Vincennes University Spring Invitational at Country Oaks Golf Course in Montgomery, Ind