EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball split its two games on Sunday to conclude its opening weekend, winning 3-2 against the University of Wisconsin Green Bay in the morning before falling 7-6 in extra innings against the University of Evansville Sunday evening. Heading into the morning matchup against Green Bay, USI looked to take care of business once again after defeating the Phoenix, 1-0, on Saturday. However, it was the Phoenix who struck first Sunday morning. Green Bay scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice. USI responded to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second. With a runner in scoring position at second base, senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) fought off multiple 0-2 pitches before rocketing a hit into centerfield to drive in the tying run. After the first run in the first, sophomore pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) found a nice groove in the second and third frames, retiring the side in order. Then in the fourth inning, Gotshall had an opportunity at the plate to help her own cause to tie the game after giving up a solo home run to Green Bay in the top of the fourth. Gotshall placed one toward the right-center gap for a two-out double that scored Martinez all the way from first to knot the game at 2-2. After a wild pitch allowed Gotshall to advance to third, senior outfielder Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana) delivered with a two-out RBI single that scored Gotshall as the go-ahead run, giving the Screaming Eagles a 3-2 lead. From that point, freshman pitcher Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) took over in the circle and pitched the last three innings for her first save, showing great poise with runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings. Meanwhile, Gotshall picked up her first win of the season after four innings pitched with two runs and a pair of strikeouts. Green Bay’s freshman pitcher Paeton Kringel took her second loss of the season. Going into the night game against Evansville, USI was hopeful to build on its 2-0 start and complete the weekend undefeated. Early indications in the first two innings showed promise for a pitcher’s duel, as the game remained scoreless after the two innings of play. Senior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) started the game for USI, striking out three in the first two frames. Southern Indiana broke the scoreless contest against Evansville’s sophomore pitcher Sydney Weatherford in the top of the third inning. With runners on the corners, sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) drilled one to left center for a two-RBI double to put USI up, 2-0. Evansville freshman Taylor Howe tied the game, 2-2, with a home run in the bottom of the third. Evansville went ahead with two runs in the fourth inning, but Southern Indiana answered in the top of the fifth with three runs. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana), who led USI in the game with a three-hit night, singled to lead off the inning. Following an error and a fielder’s choice, the bases were loaded for the Screaming Eagles. Another fielder’s choice scored a USI run to make it a 4-3 game. Then senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) evened the game back up at 4-4 with an RBI single. A fielder’s choice and error allowed another USI run to score and put the Screaming Eagles ahead, 5-4. The Purple Aces responded with their third straight two-run inning in the bottom of the fifth, as junior infielder Marah Wood went deep for a two-run home run to put UE back in front by one. Southern Indiana was not fazed, knotting the game 6-6 with a run in the top of the sixth off an Evansville error. The game remained deadlocked into extra innings, as USI sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) and UE junior pitcher Megan Brenton had taken over in the circle, trying to give their respective teams a chance to win late. Newman came through with clutch strikeouts in the sixth, as UE had a go-ahead runner in scoring position but was left stranded. At the start of extra innings in the eighth, the international tie-breaker rule took effect with a runner starting the inning at second base. USI was able to get the runner to third but could not score. In the bottom of the eighth, UE had the bases loaded and one out, but once again, Newman picked up a pair of key strikeouts to end the inning. In the ninth, Southern Indiana advanced the second base runner to third and drew a walk to have runners at the corners with one gone. However, Evansville got out of the threat with an inning-ending double play off a flyout and a throw that was in time to nab USI’s runner at home after tagging up. In the bottom half of the ninth, UE placed down a sacrifice bunt to advance the second base runner to third. The next batter, Howe, flew out to center but an errant throw allowed the game-winning run at third to score and end the game. Besides Bedrick’s three hits, Rager also had a multi-hit game with two hits to go along with an RBI. Nalley had a two-RBI game for Southern Indiana. USI tallied six runs on 11 hits. Goodin went 3.2 innings in the circle with four runs and five strikeouts. Newman tossed five innings with three runs – two earned – and seven strikeouts. She was dealt the loss to move her record to 1-1 this season. Evansville’s Weatherford did not factor into the pitching decision after five innings pitched, allowing five runs – two earned. Brenton was credited with her second win of the season, pitching four innings, and allowing one unearned run with four strikeouts. Offensively, the Purple Aces scored seven runs with three hits. Next up, the Screaming Eagles will carry their 2-1 start to the season to Birmingham, Alabama next weekend at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Samford University. USI will face Samford on Friday, play against the University of North Alabama and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) on Saturday, and take on Samford and North Alabama again on Sunday.
