Witthaus earns first career win to lead USI Softball to Saturday split against Leathernecks
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball hosted Western Illinois University in a doubleheader on Saturday to open the Screaming Eagles’ 2025 home schedule and Ohio Valley Conference play. The two sides split the two games, as USI bounced back from a 4-2 setback in the series opener and captured a 3-2 victory in the back end of Saturday’s twin bill.
In game one, Western Illinois (5-13, 1-1 OVC) opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first inning. Southern Indiana (4-12, 1-1 OVC) answered with a tying run on an RBI knock by senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley.
USI grabbed a 2-1 advantage on a sac fly by senior third baseman Whitley Hunter in the home half of the fourth, but Western Illinois answered with two runs on a double in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Western Illinois tacked on an additional run in the seventh to seal the 4-2 result.
Despite the Leathernecks scattering some hits off of senior pitcher Josie Newman (3-6) in the early innings, the right-hander fanned 11 total batters. Newman struck out the side in the first inning to move into second on USI’s career strikeouts list. The senior pitched all seven innings.
USI recorded three hits with one hit apiece for the top three in the batting order.
For Western Illinois, freshman pitcher Libby Spaulding (1-2) was credited the win in middle relief, giving up one run in two innings pitched. Sophomore pitcher Lillie Wools picked up the save, tossing the last three innings scoreless. Freshman starting pitcher Kaitlyn Green took a no-decision in two innings of work.
In the second game, Western Illinois led 1-0 after a first-inning run, but Southern Indiana tied the game in the bottom of the third on a bases-loaded, pinch-hit RBI single by freshman Grace Huffman.
The game remained tied until the home half of the sixth when Hunter, who doubled to lead off the inning, came home to score on a wild pitch and give USI a 2-1 advantage. Later in the inning, junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton added an insurance run with an RBI single to put USI up 3-1.
Freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus was in the process of a strong start after holding Western Illinois scoreless since the first-inning run. However, Witthaus ran into a tense situation in the top of the seventh after a pair of walks and a sacrifice got runners into second and third with one out. The Leathernecks got a run back on a sac fly to pull within one, 3-2, but with two outs on the board. Unfazed, Witthaus induced a final groundball out to close out the USI victory.
Witthaus (1-5) recorded her first career win in the complete game. The left-hander struck out three and gave up only two runs – one earned. At the plate, Hunter had two of USI’s six hits. Sophomore designated player Alyssa Mumaw had a hit, two walks, and scored two runs.
The Leathernecks mustered only four hits off Witthaus. Wools (2-4) bookended the game for Western Illinois, totaling four innings of work and three runs allowed in being charged with the loss.
The OVC-opening series for Western Illinois and Southern Indiana will be decided Sunday with a rubber match from USI Softball Field. First pitch is slated for Noon. The game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
Sunday’s game is Youth Team Day, and younger fans are encouraged to wear their youth team jerseys. Plus, the first 100 kids get a free USI keychain.
Admission to all USI Softball home games in 2025 is free courtesy of ProRehab.
