EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On a day of celebration and remembrance at USI Softball Field, University of Southern Indiana Softball opened its series against Eastern Illinois University with a narrow 2-0 loss on Sunday afternoon, as the two sides began a big series between the top two schools in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The day started with a heartfelt recognition and a moment of silence for the late USI Softball alumna and former catcher Courtney Schoolcraft, who passed away on April 3 after a fight with cancer. Schoolcraft graduated in 2022 but battled clear cell sarcoma since 2019 when she played for the Screaming Eagles. USI wore the color yellow to honor Schoolcraft and help raise cancer awareness. Plus, Schoolcraft’s number 8 and yellow ribbons were painted in the grass behind home plate in her honor. Following the moment of silence, yellow balloons were released into the blue skies with the help of USI Softball alumni in attendance on Sunday.
Once the game began, a much-anticipated pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the OVC in USI junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Eastern Illinois freshman pitcher Mackenzie Oslanzi took place. Each pitcher surrendered a hit in the first inning but allowed no runs to score. The game remained knotted at zero through three innings.
In the fourth inning, the Panthers led off with back-to-back singles. Later in the frame, the runner at second base came around to score an unearned run on a defensive misplay by USI to put EIU ahead, 1-0. During the top of the fourth inning, Newman recorded her 500th career strikeout, achieving a milestone that only four other pitchers have reached in USI Softball history.
After two empty innings for both teams in the fifth and sixth innings, Eastern Illinois doubled its lead to 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning on a bases-loaded sac fly.
In the home half of the seventh, USI tried to rally. Senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana), who backed up and learned under Schoolcraft as an underclassman in 2020-22, led off with a walk. A few batters later, sophomore Olivia Money (Fort Branch, Indiana) made it first and second for USI with a pinch-hit single. However, with the potential game-winning run at the plate, the Panthers’ Oslanzi halted the Screaming Eagles’ late charge and finished the shutout win for Eastern Illinois.
On the day, Southern Indiana had four hits and Eastern Illinois totaled seven hits toward its two runs.
In the pitching circle, Newman suffered the hard-luck loss following her OVC-leading 20th complete game. Newman moved to 14-6 this season. The junior allowed two runs – one earned – with six strikeouts. Newman ended the day in a tie for fourth in USI history with 502 career strikeouts. Newman also added to her OVC lead in strikeouts (172) and innings pitched (140.0) this season, which would also rank top five in the nation if USI was officially eligible for NCAA statistical rankings.
EIU’s Oslanzi picked up an OVC-best 17th win on Sunday after hurling a full seven innings with four strikeouts. Oslanzi is 17-3 on the campaign.
Following Sunday’s game, Southern Indiana moved to 16-15 overall and 10-6 in conference play, dropping to two games back of first-place Eastern Illinois, who improved to 26-12 overall and 12-4 in the OVC.
The series between the Screaming Eagles and Panthers wraps up Monday with a doubleheader starting at Noon. Both games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. The Spin 95.7 will have radio coverage of game 2 of the doubleheader. Additional coverage links can be found on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
