EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball captured a series win against the University of Tennessee at Martin on Sunday, following up Saturday’s series-opening victory with a split doubleheader Sunday afternoon. The Screaming Eagles won 8-2 in the doubleheader’s second game after the visiting Skyhawks took the first game by a final score of 5-0.
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The series win against UT Martin marked Southern Indiana’s third series win in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Screaming Eagles improved to 12-15 overall and claimed fourth place in the OVC with a 6-5 conference record. The Skyhawks are 12-16 this season with a 5-6 mark in the OVC after Sunday’s action.
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The first game of the doubleheader started out in a pitcher’s duel. USI sophomore pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) and UT Martin junior pitcher Brooklynn Linneman worked around a few baserunners and some hits to keep the game scoreless through three innings.
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The Skyhawks grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth inning, tallying two runs off three hits and a couple of productive outs in the inning. Two innings later, the Skyhawks continued to be aggressive at the plate against Gotshall. After the first two batters reached and then two consecutive outs, UT Martin freshman Jordyn Hustey hit a three-run home run to give UTM a 5-0 advantage, which held the rest of the way.
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Gotshall was dealt the loss, dropping to 2-4 this season. The right-hander went six innings, struck out two, and allowed five runs off nine hits. Freshman pitcher Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky) tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
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Offensively, Gotshall had a pair of hits along with sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana).
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Linneman improved to 5-4 on the season with the win in the complete game, shutout effort. She struck out five and gave up six hits.
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In the second game of the doubleheader, Southern Indiana found early momentum in the bottom of the first inning after getting the first two hitters on base. USI went on to score two runs, including one off an RBI single from senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois).
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The Screaming Eagles claimed a 3-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs and two on, senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) brought in a run with a hit to right field.
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UT Martin got one run back in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by graduate senior Kaitlyn Kelley, but USI responded with two runs in the home half of the fourth and took a 5-1 lead to the fifth.
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USI increased its advantage to 8-1 in the fifth inning. Junior Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) recorded an RBI knock, and Goodin shot a two-RBI double to the alley.
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UT Martin tacked on one more run before the end of the game, but USI sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) earned her 10th complete game of the season. Newman was in a groove throughout the contest, striking out six and allowing one earned run off four hits. The right-hander also picked up her 10th win to move to 10-6 this season. Newman also surpassed 100 strikeouts for the season on Sunday.
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UT Martin’s junior pitcher Katie Dreiling took the loss to move her record to 6-5. Dreiling was chased out of the game after 1.2 innings of work, giving up three runs – two earned – on four hits.
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It was a team effort at the plate for the Screaming Eagles in Sunday’s series finale. Bedrick had two hits, an RBI, and three runs. Goodin went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Junior Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) registered two RBIs, and Nalley scored three times.
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Goodin’s overall batting average climbed to .459, which is among the top-20 in the nation. Her team-leading RBI total also increased to 23 runs batted in. In OVC play, Goodin is hitting .550 with 17 RBIs. The senior sits among the top of the OVC in batting average and in RBIs. Bedrick’s overall batting average escalated to .329 while her team-best run total increased to 21.
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The Screaming Eagles return to action at USI Softball Field Tuesday for a midweek doubleheader against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). First pitch Tuesday is at 3 p.m. Admission to all 2023 USI Softball home spring games is free, courtesy of The Women’s Hospital Deaconess. Both games can be heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
