WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—Junior second baseman Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) went a combined 3-of-7 with a double, grand slam and six RBI as University of Southern Indiana Softball picked up a pair of wins in its opening day at The Spring Games.
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Martinez had a walk-off, RBI-double as the Screaming Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat St. Cloud State University, 3-2, in eight innings in their opener. She hit a grand slam and had five RBI in the Eagles’ 6-2 win over the University of Central Missouri in their nightcap.
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Sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) was a blistering 7-of-8 at the plat with four runs scored and four stolen bases.
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Bedrick had a hand in every run the Eagles scored in their win over St. Cloud State. She singled, stole second, stole third and scored on an error to give USI a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. She hit an RBI-double in the last half of the eighth inning to tie the contest at 2-2; then scored the game-winning run on Martinez’s double.
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The Huskies (6-3) capitalized on the international tie-breaker in the top of the eighth inning to score a two-out run and take a 2-1 lead. USI took advantage of the international tie-breaker rule in the last part of the eighth inning to tie the score before Martinez ended the game with the RBI-double.
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Senior pitcher Maddie Duncan (Lynnville, Indiana) earned the win in the circle after giving up an unearned run off one hit. Duncan (2-2) had three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of work.
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Duncan came on in relief of freshman hurler Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana), who allowed just one run off seven hits while fanning six batters in 5 2/3 innings of work.
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A single and a pair of walks set Martinez up for her first-career grand slam in the top of the third inning against Central Missouri. Martinez, who hit her first home run of the year and fourth of her collegiate career, gave the Eagles a 4-1 lead over the Jennies with the blast.
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The Eagles scored again in the fourth inning when Martinez singled to score Bedrick and give USI a commanding 5-1 lead.
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Central Missouri (4-10) cut into USI’s cushion with a tally in the bottom of the fourth inning, but a solo home run by sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair(Greenwood, Indiana) to lead off the fifth inning quickly stole momentum away from the Jennies and staked USI to a 6-2 advantage.
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Freshman pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was credited with the win in a relief appearance after allowing just one hit and striking out six batters in 3 2/3 innings of work. She improves to 3-3 on the year.
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Senior pitcher Katie Back (Indianapolis, Indiana) started the game and left with the lead after 3 1/3 innings of work but did not go the required four innings to get credit for the win. Back was solid, allowing just two runs and just one earned run.
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USI returns to action Saturday at 8 a.m. (CST) when it takes on Winona State University in Winter Haven, Florida. The Eagles cap off their second day with a bout against No. 17 Minnesota State University-Mankato at 10:15 a.m.
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Martinez had a walk-off, RBI-double as the Screaming Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat St. Cloud State University, 3-2, in eight innings in their opener. She hit a grand slam and had five RBI in the Eagles’ 6-2 win over the University of Central Missouri in their nightcap.
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Sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) was a blistering 7-of-8 at the plat with four runs scored and four stolen bases.
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Bedrick had a hand in every run the Eagles scored in their win over St. Cloud State. She singled, stole second, stole third and scored on an error to give USI a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. She hit an RBI-double in the last half of the eighth inning to tie the contest at 2-2; then scored the game-winning run on Martinez’s double.
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The Huskies (6-3) capitalized on the international tie-breaker in the top of the eighth inning to score a two-out run and take a 2-1 lead. USI took advantage of the international tie-breaker rule in the last part of the eighth inning to tie the score before Martinez ended the game with the RBI-double.
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Senior pitcher Maddie Duncan (Lynnville, Indiana) earned the win in the circle after giving up an unearned run off one hit. Duncan (2-2) had three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of work.
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Duncan came on in relief of freshman hurler Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana), who allowed just one run off seven hits while fanning six batters in 5 2/3 innings of work.
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A single and a pair of walks set Martinez up for her first-career grand slam in the top of the third inning against Central Missouri. Martinez, who hit her first home run of the year and fourth of her collegiate career, gave the Eagles a 4-1 lead over the Jennies with the blast.
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The Eagles scored again in the fourth inning when Martinez singled to score Bedrick and give USI a commanding 5-1 lead.
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Central Missouri (4-10) cut into USI’s cushion with a tally in the bottom of the fourth inning, but a solo home run by sophomore first baseman Lexi Fair(Greenwood, Indiana) to lead off the fifth inning quickly stole momentum away from the Jennies and staked USI to a 6-2 advantage.
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Freshman pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was credited with the win in a relief appearance after allowing just one hit and striking out six batters in 3 2/3 innings of work. She improves to 3-3 on the year.
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Senior pitcher Katie Back (Indianapolis, Indiana) started the game and left with the lead after 3 1/3 innings of work but did not go the required four innings to get credit for the win. Back was solid, allowing just two runs and just one earned run.
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USI returns to action Saturday at 8 a.m. (CST) when it takes on Winona State University in Winter Haven, Florida. The Eagles cap off their second day with a bout against No. 17 Minnesota State University-Mankato at 10:15 a.m.
