Strong pitching, early scoring leads USI to win over Butler

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball grabbed a 4-1 win against Butler University on Wednesday, as early offense and solid pitching led the Screaming Eagles to the midweek victory.
 
With Wednesday’s win, USI improved to 15-17 on the season. Out of the Big East Conference, Butler dropped to 15-24 overall.
 
The Screaming Eagles had a fast start to Wednesday’s contest, receiving solid defense and early scoring. To end the top of the first inning, sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) made a highlight catch, and the momentum carried into USI’s first at-bats in the bottom of the first. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) and Nalley led off USI’s half of the first with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) doubled to right-center field to score both runners and give Southern Indiana an early 2-0 advantage.
 
Through four innings, USI doubled its lead to 4-0. Bedrick and senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) tacked on RBIs in the second and fourth frames, respectively. Freshman pitcher Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky) made her first career start for USI, hurling four shutout innings with three strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Gibson picked up her first career win.
 
Butler scored its only run in the sixth inning, as USI locked down the game the rest of the way. Freshman pitcher Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) finished the game after coming in for Gibson. Eads received her second save of the season after going three innings, giving up one unearned run and only one hit, and striking out a batter.
 
Offensively, Bedrick went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI for USI. Fair had two RBIs on the double. Seven other Screaming Eagles tallied a hit in the game.
 
For Butler, senior pitcher Mackenzie Griman dropped to 7-11 on the season with the loss, surrendering two runs off three hits in her only inning of work in the first inning.
 
The Screaming Eagles continue their four-game homestand Saturday and Sunday, taking on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Ohio Valley Conference action from USI Softball Field. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., and Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for a 12 p.m. first pitch. Admission to all 2023 USI Softball home spring games is free, courtesy of The Women’s Hospital Deaconess.
 
All three games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.