USI Softball opens postseason play Thursday

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball opens Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament play Thursday at 12:30 p.m. when it hosts No. 8-seeded Maryville University in the opening round.
 
The Screaming Eagles (40-10, 26-2 GLVC) enter the tournament as the top seed after finishing the regular-season by winning 28 of their last 30 games, including a program-record 26 wins in conference play.
 
USI jumped one spot to No. 15 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Division II Top 25 poll. The University of Indianapolis, which is the No. 2 seed in the GLVC Tournament, dropped a spot to No. 3 in the latest national poll, while Grand Valley State University stayed at No. 21 to round out the Midwest Region’s presences in the national poll.
 
If USI wins its opening round game, the Eagles will play the winner of the matchup between No. 5-seeded University of Missouri-St. Louis and No. 4-seeded Lindenwood University Friday at 3 p.m. in the winner’s bracket. USI would play the loser between Missouri-St. Louis and Lindenwood Friday at 10 a.m. in the event of a first-round loss.
 
The GLVC Tournament semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, while any remaining “if necessary” games along with the championship are scheduled for Sunday.
 
USI’s games will be carried live on the GLVC Sports Network, while live stats and video can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com. Tickets for the GLVC Softball Championship Tournament must be purchased online and in advance as no cash will be accepted at the gate.
 
USI Softball Notes
• Eagles looking for fifth GLVC Tournament title. USI is looking for its fifth GLVC Tournament title this weekend and its first since 2018.
 
• Different format. This year’s GLVC Tournament is following the GLVC Baseball Championship’s format, with the tournament being double-elimination and the championship being a winner-take-all single game.
 
• Against the field. The Eagles went 13-1 against the GLVC Tournament field this season, including 7-1 against the top five seeds. More impressively is that the Eagles played seeds 2-5 on the road during the regular season.
 
• GLVC regular-season champions. USI captured its first regular-season GLVC title since 2017 and its first-ever out-right regular-season championship. The Eagles finished in a tie at 19-7 with Rockhurst in 2017 but had the No. 1 seed due to a tiebreaker. They tied with Ashland University at 8-0 in 1995 before winning the GLVC Tournament title.

• Scoreless streak. Lindenwood’s run in the third inning of the Eagles’ game-two win snapped a pair of USI scoreless streaks. The Eagles held their opponents scoreless for 22 consecutive frames this weekend, while freshman pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) had not given up a run in her previous 20 innings of work.
 
• Another plateau. USI’s 40 wins marks the fourth time in program history that the Eagles have reached the 40-win plateau. They won 48 games in 1998, 46 in 2017 and 41 during their national championship run in 2018. It’s also the third time in program history they have reached the 40-win plateau during the regular-season.
 
• GLVC win total. The Eagles matched the single-season program record for conference wins by picking up its 22nd GLVC victory. USI was 22-6 in 1998 and 2015 and went 21-9 in 2016. This season marks the fourth time in program history the Eagles have reached the 20-win plateau in league play.
 
• USI moves up on spot in NFCA Top 25. The Eagles moved up one spot to No. 15 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 poll. Indianapolis dropped a spot to No. 2, while Grand Valley State remained No. 21.
 
• Regional rankings. The final set of regional rankings are due out Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles are fighting for a top-two spot in the NCAA II Midwest Region rankings, which would give the Eagles the right to host one of the two Midwest Regionals. The NCAA Division II Tournament selection show is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. (CDT) on ncaa.com.
 
• USI ends regular season with four more wins. The Eagles went 4-0 to end the regular season. The Eagles held their opponents to just two runs in 28 innings of work, with junior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) going 2-0 with a .054 ERA and senior pitcher Katie Back (Indianapolis, Indiana) going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Newman went 1-0 with a save and a 0.62 ERA.
 
At the plate, sophomore catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) hit .583 (7-12) with three doubles and thre RBI to lead the Eagles. Goodin and junior second baseman Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) each had four RBI, while Goodin and sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) each had a home run.
 
• Season leaders. Sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) continues to pace the Eagles at the plate with a .385 batting average, 16 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 42 RBI. Back is hitting .374 with eight doubles, two home runs and 26 RBI. The Eagles are hitting .322 as a team and have 10 players with at least 12 RBI and eight with more than 20 RBI.