OXFORD, Ala. – Following an overnight suspension of play, University of Southern Indiana Softball began its Ohio Valley Conference Tournament journey with a 9-1 win against Tennessee State University Thursday morning, as the Screaming Eagles earned their first-ever OVC Tournament victory.
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#3 Southern Indiana matched up against #6 Tennessee State after the Tigers defeated #7 Lindenwood University, 3-2, in 10 innings in the tournament’s opening game on Wednesday. USI and TSU started their game Wednesday afternoon before rain interrupted play.
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Tennessee State scored in its first at-bats of the game, scoring on a sacrifice fly following a leadoff triple in the top of the first inning. The Screaming Eagles were unbothered, as senior designated player Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) crushed a two-run home run out of the ballpark to put USI ahead, 2-1, after one.
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The Screaming Eagles’ offense continued to click in the bottom of the second inning, thanks to production from three of the seniors. Senior outfielder Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana) reached with a single, and two batters later, senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) brought Tucher home with an RBI single. Then Rager scored all the way from first on Goodin’s second extra-base hit of the game, an RBI double. USI led 4-1 after four innings.
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Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was in solid form, inducing a good balance of groundouts and high popouts.
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In the bottom of the fifth, senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) joined the rest of her senior class on the offensive fun. With two runners in scoring position and one out, Martinez doubled home a run. The next batter, junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana), cashed in with a two-run home run. By the end of the fifth frame, Southern Indiana led 8-1.
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Then Mother Nature intervened at the top of the sixth inning Wednesday evening. Heavy rainfall brought the game to a halt. As both teams waited out the weather, it was determined to suspend play and resume the game Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
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In the resumption of play in the top of the sixth, sophomore Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) moved from third base into the pitching circle. Gotshall pitched around a couple of baserunners, which included inducing a double play. In the bottom of the sixth and with the bases loaded for USI, Gotshall ended the game with an RBI single, giving USI a 9-1 victory and its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament win.
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At the plate, USI had two-hit games from Rager, Goodin, Gotshall, and junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana). Rager scored three runs, and Goodin tallied three RBIs.
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Newman picked up her 16th win in the pitching decision. The right-hander went the first five innings with one run allowed and a pair of strikeouts.
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Tennessee State’s freshman pitcher Holly Ayala suffered the loss after going 1.2 innings with four runs – three earned – surrendered. Sophomore pitcher Caitlyn Manus tossed the last 3.2 innings with five runs – four earned – allowed.
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The Screaming Eagles will return to action at the OVC Championship Tournament Thursday at approximately 12:30 p.m. against the No. 2 seed Eastern Illinois from Choccolocco Park. Championship tournament coverage from Oxford, Alabama can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+.  USI Softball radio coverage can be heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
