USI tallies three home runs Friday but falls short against Samford and Belmont
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Softball opened the University of Alabama Birmingham Green and Gold Classic with a pair of setbacks Friday, coming up short against Samford University, 4-0, and Belmont University, 8-4.
Southern Indiana (1-6) was tested quickly in the day’s first contest against Samford (7-3). The Bulldogs took advantage of two walks and two hits by the first four batters of the game to score the first three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior pitcher Josie Newman then locked things down by retiring the next three Bulldogs to end the inning. USI could not respond in the bottom of the first, despite three players reaching base in the frame. However, the game would settle down following an eventful first inning.
With two strikeouts in the first inning, Newman recorded seven more through the fourth inning while posting zeroes on the scoreboard. Samford looked to add on in the fourth inning, but Newman slammed the door on a two-out bases-loaded situation with a strikeout.
Offensively, USI registered a hit in each of the first three innings, but the bats would be held in check the rest of the game. Samford tacked on an additional run on a home run in the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Newman (1-3) tossed six innings with nine strikeouts and four runs allowed before handing off to senior pitcher Whitley Hunter to pitch the seventh inning.
Samford’s four runs came off six hits, and junior pitcher Olivia Trout (1-0) picked up the win with four shutout innings of work before handing off to the Bulldogs’ relief staff.
In the second game of the afternoon against Belmont (6-5), USI faced another early deficit. The Bruins crossed home plate twice on a pair of RBI singles to go up 2-0.
Just like the opener against Samford, Southern Indiana got a hit in the first couple of innings but could answer Belmont’s two-run first. However, the Screaming Eagles got their offensive breakthrough in the top of the third inning when sophomore infielder Sydney Long led off with a solo home run to make it a 2-1 ballgame. The home run was the first of the season for Long and USI.
Following the USI momentum shift, Belmont responded in the bottom of the third with another two-run frame to go ahead by three, 4-1. The Eagles got one back in the top of the fourth on freshman catcher Jordan Mackey‘s first career home run to cut the deficit in half, 4-2.
The Bruins continued to find offensive success, scoring four runs over the next two offensive innings to increase their advantage to 8-2.
The Screaming Eagles made one last push at a rally in the top of the seventh inning, not going down without a fight. With two outs on the board and a runner at first, Long connected for a two-run home run to bring USI within four, 8-4. It was Long’s second of the game and USI’s third long ball in the contest. However, USI could not sustain the late push as Belmont recorded the final out.
USI posted four runs on six hits. Long and Mackey each finished with a two-hit game. Both players’ hits went for extra bases, as Mackey’s other hit was a double. Long totaled three RBIs in the game.
In the pitching circle, freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus (0-2) started the first three frames with a strikeout and four runs allowed. Hunter pitched in relief again, hurling the last three innings with three strikeouts and four runs – three earned – surrendered.
Belmont had its eight runs come on 10 hits. Senior pitcher Rayna Cruickshanks (3-1) was credited with the win for the Bruins after starting the first four innings with three strikeouts and two runs allowed before Belmont turned to relief for the final three innings.
The Screaming Eagles will conclude their visit to Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday with another set of games at the UAB Green and Gold Classic. USI begins the day early at 9:30 a.m. against Purdue University for Southern Indiana’s first test against a Big Ten Conference school. The Eagles wrap up the trip right after with a game against tournament host UAB at Noon, which can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Links for live stats coverage are available at usiscreamingeagles.com.
