EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana claimed its fifth Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Softball Championship Sunday afternoon at the EastSide Centre. The Screaming Eagles backed up their Regular Season crown with wins over Lindenwood University and the University of Indianapolis Sunday afternoon taking down Maryville University on Saturday.
SEMIFINALS
#1 Southern Indiana 4, #4 Lindenwood 1
BOX | RECAPS:
USI,
LWU
Lindenwood took the early lead when Whitney Kinser had a solo shot for her first homer of the year in the first inning. Southern Indiana would eventually respond when they eventually took the lead in the bottom of the third inning where they scored a pair of runs. USI would score another pair of runs in the sixth inning to put things out of reach and end Lindenwood’s Tournament run and advance to the Championship game. Allie Goodin went the distance for the Screaming Eagles on the mound, only allowing three hits and walking one batter in the win.
#2 Indianapolis 1, #3 Drury 0
BOX | RECAPS:
UINDY,
DU
All-GLVC First Team Pitcher Kristina Bettis took a no-hitter through seven innings for Drury while fellow First Team selection Kenzee Smith also dazzled in game one. It was not until the seventh when Hanna Burris got on for the Greyhounds and eventually came around to score on a Jocelyn Calvin fielder’s choice to bring in Burris from third and send UIndy into the title game. Smith and Burris posted identical 11 strikeout, one walk performances in a pitcher’s duel that will not be forgotten anytime soon by those who watched.
CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Southern Indiana 1, #2 Indianapolis 0
BOX | RECAPS:
USI, UINDY
Goodin and Smith took the field for the third time on the weekend with both of them going the distance and pitching complete games. It was not until the fifth inning when the 0-0 stalemate was broken when All-GLVC selection Katie Back came in to pinch hit for the Screaming Eagles, going for a double to bring in Mikaela Domico on the play and give USI the 1-0 lead and that was all they needed in the game. Goodin held Greyhound batters to just two hits with only one reaching scoring position coming in the game’s opening inning.