University of Southern Indiana Softball scored a combined five runs in the sixth inning to earn a pair of wins at the Spring Games Friday. The No. 24 Screaming Eagles scored a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and defeat Fairmont State University, 4-2, in their opener, while three runs in the last half of the sixth inning led to a 3-1 win over Midwest Region opponent Cedarville University in the nightcap.
USI 4, Fairmont State 2
USI (10-3) trailed 1-0 heading into the fourth inning when a double steal followed by a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated player Elissa Brown had the Eagles up, 2-1, heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Fairmont State (0-5), however, scored another run in the home half of the fourth to tie the score at 2-2. Junior outfielder Jessica Tucker’s RBI-single in the sixth inning gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead. She later scored from third when senior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt was thrown out trying to steal second.
Leonhardt (5-2) overcame five walks and a hit batter to earn her fifth win of the year. She allowed just two runs, one earned, off three hits, while striking out seven batters.
USI 3, Cedarville 1
Sophomore pitcher Katie Back gave up just two hits and an unearned run as USI used a sixth-inning rally to defeat Cedarville.
The Yellow Jackets (5-19) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth as a lead-off single and an error led to a Cedarville run.
Tucker’s lead-off single in the home half of the sixth inning sparked a much-need USI offensive explosion. She came around to score when Cedarville leftfielder Annie Rourke’s throw back into the infield following junior outfielder Alicia Webb’s two-out single got past the catcher.
Freshman pitcher/first baseman Allie Goodin followed with a two-run home run, the first of her collegiate career, to give the Eagles the 3-1 lead.
Back (2-1) tossed a perfect seventh inning to complete the victory. She had four strikeouts and allowed just three base runners en route to the complete-game victory.
Notes: The Eagles had just one hit going into the sixth inning against Cedarville…Goodin has now reached base safely in a team-high tying 10 straight games.
Up next: USI takes on No. 12 Saint Anselm College and Le Moyne College Saturday at 8:15 a.m. (CST) and 10:30 a.m., respectively…USI and Saint Anselm met for the NCAA II National Championship in 2018, when the Eagles earned a two-game sweep of the Hawks…the two teams met a year ago, with USI coming away with a 2-1 win.
Friendly reminder: Daylight Savings time begin Sunday.
