USI closes out The Spring Games with win, splits doubleheader on Wednesday

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – University of Southern Indiana Softball (6-10) concluded its trip at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida with a 5-3 win on Wednesday afternoon to split a doubleheader against Long Island University. USI fell in Wednesday’s first game against Long Island, 5-0.
 
Southern Indiana went 3-5 at The Spring Games, winning two of the last three matchups.
 
In the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Long Island struck first in the bottom of the second inning to grab a 1-0 lead. The Sharks added another run in the third.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, USI loaded the bases with no outs after a couple of hits from seniors Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) and Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) and a walk by junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana). Long Island was able to get out of the jam with a force out at home and two other outs in the infield. Southern Indiana had another opportunity with a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth, as USI had runners on the corners and one out. Once again, LIU left the inning unscathed after turning a double play.
 
After another run scored for LIU in the fifth, the Sharks built a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning following a two-run home run. Long Island, who got the leadoff hitter on base in the last five offensive innings, closed out the game and held Southern Indiana to four hits.
 
In the circle, USI sophomore pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) was charged with the loss, moving her record to 1-2 this season. Gotshall struck out four and allowed two runs in the first three innings. Freshman pitcher Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched the last three innings, giving up three runs – two earned – with two strikeouts.
 
For LIU, sophomore pitcher Lindsey Cowans improved to 4-5 this season after the shutout with five strikeouts. Offensively, redshirt senior Sam Garcia had two hits, including the two-run home run for the Sharks.
 
In the back half of the doubleheader, USI jumped out in front with a big second inning to take a 5-0 lead. Junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) started the inning with a solo home run, her second in as many days and her second of the season. Later in the inning, the back half of the batting order loaded the bases for USI with a pair of walks and a single. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to increase the Screaming Eagles’ advantage to 4-0. Two batters later, Bedrick came around to score USI’s fifth run on an RBI knock from Goodin. Bedrick led USI with two hits and three RBIs in the game.
 
In the meantime, sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was in a good rhythm following her shutout on Tuesday. Newman did well pitching to her defense while also striking out three through the first four innings. Then the right-hander ran into a little bit of trouble in the fifth against LIU.
 
With two Sharks on base and two outs, LIU’s Garcia hit a three-run home run to pull Long Island within two, 5-3. It was Garcia’s second home run of the doubleheader. The next batter hit a double into the alley, but Newman was able to get a big strikeout to end the top of the fifth with USI on top.
 
Newman got back into a rhythm in the last two innings to finish out the contest and record her fourth complete game of the season. The sophomore struck out six and allowed three runs – one earned – in the full seven innings to improve to 5-4 on the year.
 
Her counterpart from LIU, sophomore pitcher Alyssa O’Donnell, also pitched a complete game. O’Donnell went six innings, surrendered five runs – three earned off seven hits and four walks, and struck out six. O’Donnell’s record dropped to 4-5.
 
Next up, the Screaming Eagles will prepare for the start of the Ohio Valley Conference season. Southern Indiana will open OVC play this weekend with a three-game set at Morehead State University. Saturday’s doubleheader is slated to start at 11 a.m. CT, and Sunday’s series finale is also scheduled for an 11 a.m. CT first pitch. All three games can be seen with an ESPN+ subscription.