The USI Softball team hosted Southeast Missouri State University Saturday, March 21, for a conference matchup. The Screaming Eagles entered the game with a strong record of 6-1, looking to strengthen their position in the top three of the Ohio Valley Conference.
The weather Saturday was beautiful, sunny and low ‘80s; Perfect conditions for softball. For Southern Indiana, Kylie Witthaus, sophomore pitcher, took the mound, entering the game with an earned-run average of 5.02. Previously, she pitched 3.4 innings in the last two games against Western Illinois University, contributing to two wins.
Witthaus’ start against SEMO began smoothly, as she struck out two batters in the first two innings and gave up no hits. In the bottom of the second inning, Kate Satkowski, junior outfielder, singled into right field, and advanced into scoring position. Then, Abbey Booher, freshman infielder, and Lilly Brown, sophomore first baseman, walked in the following at-bats.
Alyssa Mumaw, junior catcher, stepped to the plate for an opportunity to score runners. However, SEMO was extremely careful in this situation. One poorly-placed pitch could be disastrous.
Mumaw was patient with her at bat, drawing a six-pitch walk, scoring Satwowski to give the Screaming Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
The Redhawks made a change at pitcher, which turned out to be the right decision, as they were able to get out of the inning with only giving up one run, after Caroline Stapleton, senior outfielder, hit into a double-play ball and Katelyn Marx, freshman outfielder, hit a groundball to second base.
Witthaus’ day continued strongly with her no-hitter through three innings. Despite her strong play on the mound, the Screaming Eagles failed to score a run in the third inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Witthaus gave up her first hit of the game to the first batter she faced on a single up the middle. The next batter dropped a sacrifice bunt to get runners into scoring position. As the next two batters retired, that was as close to scoring as the Redhawks would come.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Satkowski attempted to get things going with a single up the middle and stole second base off a Booher strikeout. After Brown drew another walk, SEMO once again changed pitchers.
This change was what they needed, as Stapleton and Marx both struck out to end the inning. And, the Screaming Eagles were getting closer to scoring.
In the top of the fifth inning, SEMO finally started hitting off Witthaus, as the first two batters put softballs into the outfield, bringing runners into scoring position. With runners in scoring position, Witthaus gave up a sacrifice fly, which gave SEMO the tying run.
Southern Indiana was able to get out of the inning relatively unscathed. Witthaus was unable to get run support in the bottom half of the inning, as the Screaming Eagles didn’t register a hit. However, they were getting quality at-bats, which built up confidence.
Witthaus’ strong day went a bit sideways at the top of the sixth inning, where she gave up three straight hits, one of which broke the tie in favor of SEMO, which forced USI Softball Head Coach Sue Kunkle to pull Witthaus for Elly Robbins, freshman pitcher/utility player. Robbins gave up a hit and ultimately a run, but to her credit only gave up that single run, which was a positive result, all things considered.
The Screaming Eagles looked to fight back in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Initially, it did not appear that way, as Brown and Mumaw’s plate appearances resulted in outs. However, Marx was able to hustle to first base, reaching on a fielding error, while Stapleton, who hit into a fielder’s choice, advanced to second. The next batter, Long, hit a single to center field, which brought Southern Indiana within one run.
However, their scoring threat would end there. Robbins was able to keep the Screaming Eagles’ hopes alive in the top of the seventh inning, giving up no hits and striking out a batter to end a flawless inning.
In the last opportunity for Southern Indiana, the Screaming Eagles made the most of it, as Grace Huffman, sophomore first baseman, hit a moonshot double to center field.
Satowski stepped up to the plate, hoping to bring Robbins, who was called to pinch run for Huffman, closer to scoring position. Satowski did just that, hitting a single to left field.
The next two batters, Angelia Davis, junior utility player, and Jordan Mackey, sophomore catcher/infielder, both struck out in their following at-bats.
Just as it seemed that the Screaming Eagles were starting to get a chance to tie the game, their odds became shorter and shorter. With the game on the line, Mumaw hit a double to center field, scoring both Satowski and Robbins, securing a walk-off win by a score of 4-3. This win was extra special, as it marked USI Softball Head Coach Sue Kunkle’s 700th win of her illustrious career, something that the team can take immense pride in.
Snapshots from the game:
