USI grabs early lead, but falls after Indiana’s sixth-inning rally

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball jumped out to a 5-1 lead on the road against Indiana University on Wednesday afternoon, but a big sixth-inning rally by the Hoosiers propelled Indiana to a 6-5 win.

Senior pitcher Josie Newman got the start for Southern Indiana (4-14) and worked around a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first inning. After stranding three Hoosiers (19-5) in the first, USI struck first in the top of the second. Following two hits and a walk to load the bases, freshman catcher Jordan Mackey shot one to the left-center alley for a two-RBI double to put USI ahead early, 2-0.

Newman and the Screaming Eagles danced around another bases-loaded situation in the home half of the fourth inning, tallying back-to-back strikeouts to keep a 2-0 lead.

Southern Indiana posted a third run in the top of the fifth. After a one-out single by junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton, senior third baseman Whitley Hunter brought Stapleton home on a two-out double to give USI the 3-0 advantage. IU got the run back with a sac fly in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 3-1 USI going to the sixth inning.

In the sixth frame, an RBI knock by Mackey and another run off an IU error increased the Eagles’ lead to four, 5-1. However, the Hoosiers got the bats rolling in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs with four coming home on a grand slam to catapult IU ahead, 6-5. USI could not overcome the IU rally, going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Southern Indiana totaled eight hits toward its five runs. Seven of USI’s starting offensive nine tallied a hit. Mackey led the offense with two hits and three RBIs. Freshman first baseman Lilly Brown had a hit with two runs and fellow freshman Grace Huffman recorded a hit and a run. In the pitching circle, Newman (3-8) went the distance for the seventh time this season, striking out four in the tough loss.

For Indiana, the Hoosiers finished with nine hits. Freshman starting pitcher Jenae Berry did not factor into the decision, lasting only an inning with two runs allowed. Freshman pitcher Jasmine Reyes pitched the middle innings, going 4.1 innings of work with three runs surrendered – two earned – and four strikeouts. Senior utility Brianna Copeland finished the last 1.2 innings scoreless.

The Screaming Eagles will turn their attention back to Ohio Valley Conference play in the coming days. USI travels to Tennessee State University for a three-game series that has been pushed up due to bad weather in the forecast in Nashville, Tennessee. The Eagles and Tigers will now play a doubleheader Friday at Noon and a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Coverage of the series against Tennessee State can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.

Aces sweep doubleheader at Lindenwood

UE set to open MVC schedule this weekend

Wednesday’s doubleheader at Lindenwood saw the pitching staff for the University of Evansville shine, limiting the Lions to just two runs as the Purple Aces took both contests.

Game 1 – UE 3, Lindenwood 1

Jess Willsey belted a 3-run home run in the top of the first and that would be enough as the Purple Aces opened the day with a 3-1 win over the Lions.  Niki Bode reached on a 1-out walk in the first while Morgan Adams followed with a double.  Next up was Willsey who put UE on the board with the homer.

Bode picked up a hit in the second while Eliza Piggott added a hit in the third, but the lead remained at 3-0.  After recording three hits in the first four frames, Lindenwood scored their first run in the bottom half of the fifth.

From that point on, the Aces pitching held strong to clinch the 3-1 win.  Gracie Hollingsworth pitched five innings in the start with one run scoring on five hits.  She picked up her fifth win of the season.  Kate Ridgway threw the final two frames allowing one hit.  Ridgway was credited with her first save of the season.

Evansville completed the game with six hits as six different players recorded one.

Game 2 – UE 2, Lindenwood 1

Cassidy Gall pitched a complete game 3-hitter to lead the Aces to a 2-1 win in the second game of the day.  Following a scoreless three frames, Evansville jumped in front with a run in the top of the fourth.  Jess Willsey opened with a double before scoring on a sac fly by Eliza Piggott.

Lindenwood fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth, but UE countered in the fifth.  Miriah Powell hit a 1-out double before scoring what would be the winning run on a double from Niki Bode.

Gall continued her stellar outing as she did not allow a baserunner over the final three frames to seal the 2-1 victory.  She struck out three batters while picking up the first win of her collegiate career.

On Friday, the Aces open the MVC schedule at home against UNI.

-www.GoPurpleAces.com-

Kay homers in VU’s midweek clash with D-I No. 16 John A. Logan

CARTERVILLE, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team faced another tough road test Tuesday afternoon as the Blazers hit the road to face off against NJCAA Division I No. 16-ranked John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill.

The Trailblazers were able to do some good things on the diamond but were unable to overcome a big early inning by the Volunteers as the Trailblazers fell by the final score of 10-3.

John A. Logan broke the game open early Tuesday afternoon, striking first in a big way in the second inning, scoring seven runs to take an early 7-0 lead over the Trailblazers.

Vincennes would continue to battle however, leading off the fourth inning with a single by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.), his first of three times reaching base in the game, followed by a walk by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.).

Douglas moved around the bases with a pair of stolen bases, with Andrews following suit by stealing second to give the Blazers runners in scoring position with no outs in the inning.

Vincennes would crack the scoreboard shortly after on an RBI groundout put in play by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) to cut the deficit to 7-2.

John A. Logan would get a run back in the bottom of the inning, which VU would respond back in the fifth in a big way as sophomore Damon Kay (Spencer, Ind.) launched a solo home run, his first of the season and second in his VU career, to get the Blazers back to trailing 8-3.

The Volunteers would again answer back in the bottom half of the inning, plating a pair of runs to increase their lead back to seven at 10-3.

The Trailblazers continued to fight into the later innings, getting lead off singles by Bradyn Douglas in the sixth and sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) in the eighth, but were unable to push a run across as John A. Logan closed out the 10-3 victory over the Blazers.

Freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers Tuesday afternoon, throwing one and one-third innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on seven hits and striking out one.

Freshman Grayson Reichert (Shepherdsville, Ky.) took over for the Trailblazers in the second and looked solid on the mound during the middle innings allowing three runs on three hits and striking out two in four and two-thirds innings of work.

Sophomore Colton Okes (Evansville, Ind.) came in to pitch the final two innings for the Trailblazers, allowing two hits and striking out three in his two innings on the mound.

Vincennes will look to bounce back and get back into the win column this weekend when VU returns to Jerry Blemker Field Friday, March 14 for the first home Mid-West Athletic Conference series of the season.

VU will play host to Lewis & Clark Community College in the annual ‘Battle of the Trailblazers’ with the four-game series beginning Friday, March 14 at 1 p.m. eastern and games three and four set for Saturday, March 15 at 12 p.m. eastern.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VU (8-10, 0-4) – 000   210   000 – 3

John A. Logan – 070   120   00x – 10

VINCENNES HITTING

HR – Kay. RBI – Montgomery, Napier, Kay. Sac Fly – Napier. SB – Douglas 3, Andrews.

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The Vincennes University baseball team falls to 8-10 on the season, with an 0-4 record in MWAC Conference play.