EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball scored seven straight runs to earn a crucial Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep of visiting University of Missouri-St. Louis Saturday afternoon at the USI Softball Field.
USI (27-20, 15-11 GLVC) scored the final four runs in a 4-1 win in the opener before scoring the first three runs in a 3-1, game-two victory.
The Screaming Eagles conclude the regular-season Sunday at noon when they host No. 25 McKendree University (35-14, 18-8 GLVC) for Senior Day at the USI Softball Field. USI will honor its four seniors—outfielder Olivia Clark-Kittleson (Carbondale, Illinois), first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana), third baseman Mena Fulton (Bloomington, Indiana) and infielderAlex Logan (Carleton, Michigan)—following Sunday’s GLVC doubleheader.
Game 1: USI 4, UMSL 1Â (Box Score)
The Eagles scored four unanswered runs and got a strong effort in the circle from sophomore pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) to earn the 4-1 win in the opener.
Missouri-St. Louis (28-20, 15-11 GLVC) struck first with a tally in the top of the second inning; but a solo home run off the bat off Fulton tied the score in the home half of the second frame.
An RBI-single by sophomore outfielder Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky) in the fifth inning put USI up, 2-1; while a two-run blast off the bat of junior catcher Lindsey Barr (Whitesville, Kentucky) gave the Eagles their three-run cushion.
The Tritons threatened in the sixth inning by getting runners at first and second with no outs, but Leonhardt took advantage of a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout and a ground ball to get the Eagles out of the jam.
Leonhardt (14-10) allowed just one run off four hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters en route to the complete-game victory.
Game 2: USI 3, UMSL 1Â (Box Score)
Despite stranding eight runners on base in the first three innings, the Eagles broke through with a three-spot in the fourth frame to take a 3-0 lead in what was, at the time, a pitchers dual.
Schubert hit a two-out, two-run double to open the scoring, while Fulton followed with an RBI-single to extend her hitting streak to 10 games.
Junior pitcher Haylee Smith (Florence, Kentucky) was solid in the circle, allowing just one hit and one walk in four innings of work to earn the win and improve her record to 5-4. Fellow classmate Courtney Atkisson (Bringhurst, Indiana) earned the three-inning save, her first of the year, after allowing just one unearned run off two hits.
Southern Indiana 4, Missouri-St. Louis 1 (Apr 28, 2018 at Evansville, IN) (Game 1)
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Missouri-St. Louis.. 010 000 0 -Â 1Â 4Â 2Â Â Â Â Â (28-19, 15-10 GLVC)
Southern Indiana…. 010 012 X -Â 4Â 4Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (26-20, 14-11 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Missouri-St. Louis – Kingery, Carly and Olson, Serena. Southern Indiana –
Leonhardt, Jennifer and Barr, Lindsey.
Win-Leonhardt, Jennifer(14-10)Â Loss-Kingery, Carly(11-6)Â T-1:39Â A-106
HR USI – Fulton, Mena (4); Barr, Lindsey (3).
Weather: 50s, sunny
Game: 46-UMSL
Southern Indiana 3, Missouri-St. Louis 1 (Apr 28, 2018 at Evansville, IN) (Game 2)
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Missouri-St. Louis.. 000 000 1 -Â 1Â 3Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (28-20, 15-11 GLVC)
Southern Indiana…. 000 300 X -Â 3Â 8Â 1Â Â Â Â Â (27-20, 15-11 GLVC)
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Pitchers: Missouri-St. Louis – Tiffee, Andee; Kingery, Carly(5) and Olson, Serena.
Southern Indiana – Smith, Haylee; Atkisson, Courtney(5) and Barr, Lindsey.
Win-Smith, Haylee(5-4)Â Save-Atkisson, Courtney(1)Â Loss-Tiffee, Andee(13-8)Â T-1:44Â A-106
Weather: 60s, breezy
Game: 47-UMSL
