University of Southern Indiana Softball erupted for a combined 24 runs and 31 hits Friday as it opened the Midwest Region Crossover with a 7-4 win against Trevecca Nazarene University and a 17-2 victory against Ferris State University at Deaconess Sports Park.
Fifteen different players had a hit for the Screaming Eagles, while 10 players had an RBI and eight players had at least two RBIs.
Junior outfielder Olivia Clark-Kittleson (Carbondale, Illinois) went 4-of-5 at the plate with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored to lead USI offensively.
Southern Indiana (4-0): 7, Trevecca Nazarene (3-5): 4
Junior third baseman Mena Fulton (Bloomington, Indiana) went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs as the Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Trevecca Nazarene, 7-4. Fulton’s two-run single highlighted a three-run fifth inning that put the Eagles up, 4-2.
Sophomore second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana) had an RBI-single in the sixth inning as the Eagles answered the Trojan’s tally in the bottom of the fifth frame; then Fulton hit a two-run shot in the top half of the seventh inning to give the Eagles a 7-3 cushion.
Senior outfielder Grace Clark (Indianapolis, Indiana) had a solo home run in the second inning to put the Eagles up, 1-0, but Trevecca Nazarene (3-5) scored runs in the third and fourth innings to go up, 2-1. Senior catcher Haley Hodges (Portage, Indiana) had an RBI-double in the fifth to tie the game prior to Fulton’s two-run single.
Freshman pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky), who was named the Herosports.com D2 Hero of the Week Friday afternoon, earned the win. Leonhardt (2-0) gave up four runs, three earned off nine hits in seven innings of work.
