USI Softball makes 2023 home debut with sweep of Lindenwood

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball made its 2023 home debut on Sunday by beating the cold and sweeping both games of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader against Lindenwood University.
 
The Screaming Eagles claimed an 8-0 victory in six innings in game 1 before taking game 2 by a final score of 7-4. The doubleheader sweep improved USI’s record to 10-11 overall and 4-1 in the OVC, keeping USI in the top part of the conference standings. On the flip side, Lindenwood dropped to 6-15 this season and 0-4 in OVC play.
 
The series against Lindenwood ended up being a two-game set following a cancellation on Saturday due to cold temperatures.
 
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Screaming Eagles jumped out in front in the bottom of the second inning when senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) sent a ball over the left-field fence for a two-run home run, her first of the season. Junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) came around to score off the Martinez home run, as Southern Indiana led 2-0.
 
USI continued to pile on runs in the bottom of the third when Fair sent a ball of her own out of the ballpark, bringing around senior designated player Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) and junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) to give USI a 5-0 advantage.

Southern Indiana would explode in the sixth inning to bring in three more runs. Following a sac fly by freshman infielder Julianna Hibbs (Henderson, Kentucky), senior Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) doubled down the left field line to drive in freshman outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana). With USI up 7-0, Goodin singled up the middle to score junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) to end the game on a run rule in the sixth inning.
 
Goodin led all hitters in the first game with three hits while also tallying a run and an RBI. Fair went 2-for-2 in game 1 with two runs and three RBIs on a home run.
 
Meanwhile, the Screaming Eagles received another brilliant performance in the pitching circle by sophomore Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana), who held the Lions at bay. Newman held Lindenwood to only three hits in six innings worked. The right-hander finished the day with seven strikeouts in her fourth shutout of the season. Newman improved her record to 8-4 on the season.
 
For Lindenwood, senior pitcher Amanda Weyh had her record drop to 3-4 after the loss. Weyh went five innings, allowing five runs and striking out four.
 
The second game of Sunday’s twin bill was less lopsided. Lindenwood scored the game’s first run in the top of the second inning on a fielder’s choice off USI sophomore starting pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana).
 
USI answered with a crooked number in the bottom of the third, posting five runs. The Screaming Eagles first grabbed a 2-1 lead when Goodin resumed her solid day at the plate with a double to left-center field that scored Rager and Bedrick. Two batters later, Fair picked up her second three-run blast of the doubleheader to push USI ahead 5-1.
 
 
After Lindenwood scored one run back in the fourth, the Lions pulled within one run, 5-4, in the top of the fifth inning, as the first four hitters reached base. USI responded with two runs in the home half of the fifth. Martinez and freshman infielder Carlee Effinger (Evansville, Indiana) each came through with RBI singles, increasing USI’s lead to 7-4.
 
Offensively, Goodin paced USI in the hit column in game 2 with a pair of hits while accounting for two RBIs. Fair had three RBIs on the home run with two runs scored.
 
Following the start of Gotshall, freshman pitcher Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky) pitched 2.1 innings of relief into the top of the seventh inning. In the seventh, Lindenwood threatened with the bases loaded and one out, so USI went to its third pitcher of the game in Newman. Newman recorded the last two outs to earn her first save of the season.
 
Gotshall earned her second win of the season, moving to 2-2 on the year. The sophomore allowed four runs – three earned – with two strikeouts in four innings.
 
Gotshall’s Lindenwood counterpart, freshman pitcher Avery Wapp, was charged with her fourth loss this season. Wapp surrendered seven runs – six earned – with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
 
On Sunday, Fair entered the top-10 in USI history for career home runs after her two-home-run day. She has 19 career home runs. Kihega’s career-best on-base streak reached 19 games on Sunday, as the catcher also moved into the top-five and in a tie for fourth in USI history with 72 career walks. Goodin extended her hitting streak to a career-best 10 games.
 
The Screaming Eagles will return to action at USI Softball Field on Wednesday for a midweek, nonconference matchup against Austin Peay State University. First pitch Wednesday is at 3 p.m. Admission to all 2023 USI Softball home spring games is free, courtesy of The Women’s Hospital Deaconess.