EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) and freshman infielder Sydney Long (Haubstadt, Indiana) were named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Tournament Team, the conference announced Saturday.
In USI’s five games at the OVC Championship Tournament in Peoria, Illinois this week, Newman totaled 34.1 innings of work in four starts and five total appearances. The right-hander struck out 20 batters while 3-2 with a 2.24 ERA. Newman tossed three complete games with one shutout. The junior also held the opposition to a .168 batting average.
At the plate, Newman went 7-17 for a .412 batting average with two doubles, a home run, and six RBIs. Newman’s total OPS was 1.150.
The all-tournament team honor adds to Newman’s postseason conference accolades. The Indianapolis, Indiana native received All-OVC First-Team laurels as well as being named the OVC Pitcher of the Year at the end of the regular season.
For Long, the freshman hit .500 with nine hits in 18 at-bats. Long scored five times while tallying two doubles and four RBIs. Long had an OPS of 1.161 and started all five games as USI’s shortstop.
At the OVC Tournament, Southern Indiana went 3-2 as the no. 4 seed. USI opened postseason play with a win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After falling to Eastern Illinois University in the second game, the Screaming Eagles bounced back to win two consecutive elimination games. However, a rematch with the EIU Panthers did not fall USI’s way, ending Southern Indiana’s season a game short of a championship-round appearance. The tournament run saw the Eagles go two games deeper in the OVC Tournament than a season ago in 2023.
