USI Softball drops two at Cocky Classic

JACKSONVILLE, Ala.—University of Southern Indiana Softball suffered a pair of setbacks Saturday at the Cocky Classic. The Screaming Eagles fell to host Jacksonville State University, 12-4, in five innings in the opener, before falling, 12-4, in five innings to Belmont University in the second game.
 
In the opener, the Screaming Eagles had a promising start to the contest when freshman designated player Alyssa Mumaw (Greenfield, Indiana) hit an RBI-double in the top of the first inning to give USI a 1-0 advantage.
 
Junior second baseman Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) opened the second inning with a double and reached third with no outs as USI looked as if it might add to its lead.
 
Jax State (5-9), however, got out of the jam unscathed before tagging the Eagles with seven runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding six-run lead. The Gamecocks added two more in the bottom of the third and three in the last half of the fourth as their lead ballooned to 12-1 heading into the fifth.
 
USI made a run in the fifth, scoring three times in an attempt to keep the game from ending in a run rule. A lead-off triple by sophomore outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana) set up sophomore Olivia Money (Fort Branch, Indiana) for a pinch-hit RBI-single to right field.
 
The proceeded to load the bases with a single and a walk in the following at-bats, setting up freshman Kate Satkoski (Lanesville, Indiana) for a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to bring in the second run.
 
Sophomore second baseman Julianna Hibbs (Henderson, Kentucky) drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI-single, but that’s as close as USI would get as Jax State closed the door on the comeback attempt with a strikeout.
 
Junior pitcher Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois) was charged with the loss after giving up five runs off four hits in a little over an inning of work. As a hole, Jax State finished with 11 hits on the morning.

Like the first game, the Eagles opened the second game with a 1-0 lead following a run-scoring single by senior catcher Sammie Kihega(Greenfield, Indiana) in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Belmont (6-4), however, answered with a tally in the top half of the second inning before erupting for five runs in the third frame and a commanding 6-1 advantage.
 
After loading the bases in the bottom of the third, the Eagles were able to get a run back to cut the deficit to 6-2; but a two-run fourth inning followed by a four-run fifth put the Bruins up 12-2.
 
An RBI-double by Money, followed by an RBI-single by junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) in the bottom of the fifth got the Eagles back to within 12-4, but that was as close as USI would get as a ground-out and a fly-out would strand two Eagles on base.
 
Newman (2-3) took the loss for the Eagles after giving up 12 runs, five earned, off eight hits. She also surrendered six walks while fanning five batters.