USI Softball Rallies Past Bellarmine In GLVC Tourney Opener
Southern Indiana (34-17): 9
Bellarmine (32-25): 7
-Box Score | Highlights
EAST PEORIA, Ill.—University of Southern Indiana Softball junior catcher Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) hit two bombs as the Screaming Eagles scored nine unanswered runs to defeat Bellarmine University, 9-7, in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Friday afternoon.
USI (34-17) trailed 7-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana) put the Eagles on the scoreboard with a two-run shot over the leftfield fence.
Hodge’s home run over the leftfield fence in the fifth inning cut the Eagles’ deficit to four runs, while a solo home run by junior shortstop Lexi Reese (Lebanon, Indiana) to lead off the sixth frame cut USI’s deficit to three runs.
After seeing the Knights (32-25) score six times in the top of the third inning, the Eagles returned the favor in the sixth frame as they plated six runs to take the 9-7 advantage.
USI followed Reese’s home run in the sixth inning with RBI-singles by sophomore third baseman Mena Fulton (Bloomington, Indiana) and senior centerfielder Janna Green (Glenwood, Indiana).
With USI trailing 7-6 and runners at second and third and two outs, Bellarmine elected to intentionally walk Hodges, who was named the GLVC Player of the Year Thursday night. However, with a 1-0 count, Bellarmine pitcher Ally Foster hung the ball over the middle of the plate.
Hodges made Foster pay for the mistake as she unloaded on the pitch, sending the ball over the centerfield fence for her GLVC-best 21st home run of the season and RBIs 67, 68, and 69.
Freshman Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) entered the circle in a relief appearance to earn her sixth win of the year. Bradley (6-2) allowed just two runs, one earned, while striking out six in 4.1 innings of work.
USI takes on No. 6 University of Missouri-St. Louis in the second round of the GLVC Tournament Friday at 4 p.m. The Tritons, who swept the Eagles in a doubleheader to end the regular season, defeated McKendree University, 5-0, to open GLVC play Friday morning.
