University of Southern Indiana Softball dropped a pair of Midwest Region contests to end the PFX Spring Games Thursday morning. The No. 14 Screaming Eagles began the day with a 4-3 setback to the University of Findlay before concluding the day with a 6-1 loss to Grand Valley State University.
USI (11-8) returns to action Sunday at noon when it opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a home doubleheader against Maryville University at the USI Softball Field.
Findlay 4, USI 3 (Box Score)
Despite a two-run double from senior third baseman Mena Fulton (Bloomington, Indiana) in the second inning, the Eagles could not make a 2-1 advantage stick as Findlay rallied for the 4-3 win.
Down to their final out, the Oilers (4-9) scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead. A walk and a hit batter to begin the frame hurt the Eagles’ defense, but after two straight outs, another hit batter followed by back-to-back hits put the Eagles into a two-run deficit heading into their half of the seventh.
A lead-off triple by junior catcher Lindsey Barr (Whitesville, Kentucky) was a promising start, but a strikeout and back-to-back ground outs ended USI’s hopes of its own comeback. Freshman infielder/outfielder Alicia Webb (Elberfeld, Indiana) had the RBI in the seventh on a pinch-hit groundout.
Sophomore pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) suffered the loss after giving up four runs off six hits in seven innings of work. Leonhardt (4-5) struck out six batters, but issued two walks and hit three batters.
Grand Valley State (9-5) 6, USI 1 (Box Score)
The Eagles seemed to have no answer for Grand Valley State junior pitcher Allison Lipovsky, who racked up 12 strikeouts. USI junior hurler Courtney Atkisson(Bringhurst, Indiana) pitched well, but a two-run third frame and a grand slam in the last half of the fifth put the Lakers up, 6-0.
Junior pitcher/outfielder Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) had a solo home run in the top half of the sixth inning, but that was one of just two hits for the Eagles on the day.
Atkisson (4-1) surrendered all six runs off seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of work as she was charged with her first loss of the year.
