University of Southern Indiana Softball settled for a split on the opening day of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament Thursday.

The No. 6 Screaming Eagles (41-11) began the day with a 10-4 win over William Jewell College, but fell to McKendree University, 3-2, to end the day.

USI returns to action Friday at 11 a.m. when it takes on Bellarmine University in the elimination bracket of the GLVC Tournament is East Peoria, Illinois. USI will have to win three times Friday to advance to Saturday’s championship round.

Game 1 | Southern Indiana 10, William Jewell 4

–Box Score

USI racked up 17 hits as it rallied from a 3-0 deficit to earn a 10-4 win over William Jewell in its opening game of the GLVC Championship Tournament. The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the last half of the first inning, three in the second and five in the sixth as it won its GLVC Tournament opener for the second straight year.

After spotting the Cardinals (26-27) a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Eagles got a two-out, two-run home run off the bat of senior catcher Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) in the bottom of the first inning to trim William Jewell’s advantage to a single tally.

The Eagles tied the game on a wild pitch in the second inning; then got back-to-back RBIs from senior shortstop Lexi Reese (Lebanon, Indiana) and junior first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana) to take a 5-3 lead.

William Jewell (26-27) got a solo home run in the fourth inning to trim USI’s lead to 5-4; but a sixth inning that saw the Eagles send nine batters to the plate ended any hope of an upset.

Reese opened the scoring with a one-out, solo home run to give USI a 6-4 lead. Senior outfielder Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) had a two-out, two-run home run to extend USI’s advantage to 8-4, while an RBI-single by junior third baseman Mena Fulton(Bloomington, Indiana) and an RBI-double by freshman designated player Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky) gave the Eagles a cozy six-run cushion.

Freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) earned her GLVC-best 24^th win of the year after giving up four runs off six hits in seven innings of work. Leonhardt (24-1) racked up seven strikeouts while issuing just two walks.

Game 2 | McKendree 3, Southern Indiana 2

–Box Score

The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning as a Fossett single pushed across the game’s first tally.

McKendree (32-19), however, got a two-run home run from senior first baseman Rachel Hastings in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-1 advantage. The Bearcats added another run in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 3-1.

USI, which stranded 11 runners on base, got an RBI-single from sophomore outfielder Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) in the seventh inning to cut the Bearcats’ lead in half. USI, however, left runners at first and second base as McKendree held on for the upset.

Leonhardt (24-2) was charged with the loss after giving up three runs off six hits in six innings of work. It is Leonhardt’s first loss since a 4-3 setback to Saginaw Valley State University February 26.

Southern Indiana 10, William Jewell 4 (May 04, 2017 at EastPeoria, IL)

———————————————————————-

William Jewell…… 300 100 0 -  4  6  1      (25-26)

Southern Indiana…. 230 005 X – 10 17  1      (41-10)

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Pitchers: William Jewell – Biondo, Anna; Lewis, Sarah(2); Friesen, Taylor(6) and

Culbertson, Madeline. Southern Indiana – Leonhardt, Jennifer and Hodges, Haley.

Win-Leonhardt, Jennifer(24-1)  Loss-Biondo, Anna(17-9)  T-1:43  A-74

HR WJC – Lewis, Sarah (2).

HR USI – Reese, Lexi (5); Hodges, Haley (9); Clark, Grace (5).

Weather: Cloudy, windy, & cold

Game: 51-GLVC

McKendree 3, Southern Indiana 2 (May 04, 2017 at East Peoria, IL)

———————————————————————-

Southern Indiana…. 001 000 1 -  2 11  0      (41-11)

McKendree……….. 002 001 X -  3  6  1      (32-19)

———————————————————————-

Pitchers: Southern Indiana – Leonhardt, Jennifer and Hodges, Haley. McKendree –

Silliman, Kylee; Magre, Holly(7) and Franke, Rebecca.

Win-Silliman, Kylee(13-6)  Save-Magre, Holly(1)  Loss-Leonhardt, Jennifer(24-2)  T-1:40  A-93

HR MCK – Hastings, Rachel (9).

Weather: Cloudy, windy, cold

Game: 52-GLVC

Program had over 4,000 hours last year

An impressive showing by the 14 sports at the University of Evansville saw them combine for 4,136 hours of community service to over 86 different agencies in the Tri-State area over the last year.

Leading the way in that department was the Purple Aces softball team.  They performed 1,396 hours of service to 60 different agencies.  Some of those included: Animalpalooza, Challenger League, Gilda’s Club, March of Dimes, Cardio for Canines, Delaware School, Rotary Club Santa Run, Toys for Tots, Holly’s House Boo at the Zoo, EPD Ball, It Takes a Village, Night of Memories, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Gala, Museum Guild and Howl O’Ween.

“What an amazing accomplishment by our young ladies this year to volunteer so much time in the community,” Aces head softball coach Mat Mundell said.  “Community services is a core principal of the University of Evansville and for three straight years they have really embraced it.  Volunteering gives us the opportunity to have an impact on our community in such a positive way.”

The top 20 individual student-athletes were recently honored as softball’s Hayli Scott along with women’s golfer Carly Waggoner tied for the top spot.  Each recorded 91 hours of service to 17 different agencies.  The UE softball team took 18 out of the top 20 spots on the list with Alex Latoria, Emily Lockhart, Courtney Land, Olivia Cheatham, McKenzie Johnson, Samantha Fleming, Mikaela Fleming, Brittany Hay, Bailee Porter, Ashleigh Downing, Morgan Lambert, Susan Norris, Kristin Koepke, Chandra Parr, Ashlee Kawall, Kori Keyes and Tess Hupe being recognized.  Men’s soccer player Cesar Guitunga was also named to the list.