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.
