The USI softball team hosted the Eastern Illinois University Panthers for their home finale game Sunday, April 26, at USI Softball Field. The weather was excellent for a noon showdown against Eastern Illinois, with a game-time temperature of 75 degrees and minimal clouds.
The Screaming Eagles entered the matchup with an Ohio Valley Conference record of 10-13 and in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Despite the faltering run of form, Southern Indiana is still one of the top eight teams in the conference, which means they will still make the OVC Softball Championship regardless of how they finish, as they can fall no lower than eighth place.
At the top of the first inning, Anna Kemp, freshman pitcher, started in the pitching circle for Southern Indiana, hoping to take her fifth win of the season.
Early on in the first inning, the game got away from Kemp. She walked and hit the first two batters, and ultimately gave up the first run to Eastern Illinois, with a single up the middle. While Kemp would eventually get the first out of the inning, the Screaming Eagles would make an error. Alyssa Mumaw, junior catcher, threw the ball over second base, placing an Eastern Illinois runner in advance to third base.
The Panthers would score two more runs in the inning, but were ultimately held to a 3-0 advantage, despite a rough inning.
The Screaming Eagles got to work fighting back in the second inning, as Caroline Stapleton, senior outfielder, and Katelyn Marx, freshman outfielder, both reached base in the first two at-bats.
Mumaw made up for her throwing error, drawing a walk to load the bases, after a patient at-bat. The subsequent batter, Jadyn Tinsley, freshman infielder, also drew a walk and scored Southern Indiana’s first run.
The Screaming Eagles continued to claw back at the lead, as Olivia Money, senior outfielder, hit into a fielder’s choice play, scoring a second run for Southern Indiana, but at the cost of a second out.
With the Screaming Eagles ratcheting things up, Kate Satkoski, junior outfielder, was hit by a pitch, loading the bases once again. This prompted Eastern Illinois to change pitchers after just one inning, which was ultimately in vain, as Jordan Mackey, sophomore infielder, hit a two 2 RBI (2 runs batted in) single down the left side, scoring Money and Mumaw.
Southern Indiana’s score was 4-3.
However, the Panthers eventually got out of the inning after Lilly Brown, sophomore first baseman, struck out.
The next two innings were nothing to note, as both teams’ pitchers began to settle in. Eastern Illinois managed two hits in the second and third innings, while Southern Indiana went hitless in the same timespan.
In the top of the fourth, Eastern Illinois struck back, tying the game, as Kemp gave up two hits and a walk to the first three batters she faced.
Southern Indiana would eventually get the first out, saving a run as Tinsley threw out a runner going for home. However, Kemp walked the following batter, prompting a pitching change from Sue Kunkle, USI softball head coach.
Kunkle brought in Elly Robbins, freshman pitcher, who allowed an RBI single, giving Eastern Illinois the lead, but Robbins managed to get out of the inning, only giving up that lone run.
The Panthers took a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Stapleton walked and stole second base with two outs. It showed the Screaming Eagles eager to get back on the scoreboard.
On the next at-bat, Marx reached first base with an error by Eastern Illinois, which safely put Stapleton on third base. Stapleton attempted to run to home plate and it turned out to be the wrong decision, as she was thrown out from centerfield, to make the third out.
This seemed like a momentum-killer for Southern Indiana. The Panthers jumped on the open opportunity, scoring an insurance run in the top of the fifth.
In the fifth and sixth innings, the Screaming Eagles managed two hits. The sixth inning provided the Screaming Eagles with a prime scoring opportunity, as Angelia Davis, junior utility player, pinch hit for Mackey, who hit a single. Davis stole second base and advanced to third base on a passed ball.
However, Southern Indiana came up short with a ground ball from Stapleton to end the sixth inning.
With the Screaming Eagles’ momentum cut short once again, the Panthers scored another insurance run in the top of the seventh inning despite the first two batters getting out. Robbins walked and hit the next two batters, leading to Eastern Illinois scoring their seventh run from a single to left field.
The game almost got out of hand as Robbins walked the following batter, which loaded the bases. She eventually got the third out, but the damage was done.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Screaming Eagles had one last chance to fight back, but luck didn’t fall their way, as Marx and Sydney Long, junior infielder, both grounded out. Despite the two outs, the Screaming Eagles fought back, as Mumaw singled to right field, and Grace Huffman, sophomore first baseman, pinch-hitting for Tinsley, drew a walk. Money brought a potential comeback into play, as she hit a single to left field, loading the bases.
Unfortunately, it was not to be, as Satkowski flew out to right field, ending the game.
The final score was Eastern Illinois 7, Southern Indiana 4.
The USI Softball Field travels to the University of Tennessee at Martin Friday, May 1, to play their final series of the season.
