Evansville, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana hit .364 (8-for-22) with runners in scoring position as the host Screaming Eagles (28-12, 16-4 GLVC) earned the 10-1 (5 inn.), 7-6 Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep over the Lewis University softball team at the USI Softball Field on Saturday (April 9) afternoon.

"We had a rough start to the day and I thought that really set the tone for game one, but I liked the fight we showed in game two, despite the outcome," Lewis head softball coach Becky Pearl said.

Lewis (15-23-1, 4-15-1 GLVC) returns to action on Sunday (April 10), as the Flyers head to Louisville for a 12 PM ET doubleheader against Bellarmine.

GAME ONE
Southern Indiana 10, Lewis 1 (5 inn.)
Box Score (PDF) / Box Score (HTML)
WP: Smith (10-6); LP: Fossey (3-8)
HR: Hodges (16)

Southern Indiana, led by the top of its line-up, scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Screaming Eagles picked up the 10-1 victory over the Flyers in the opening game of its twinbill. The top four Screaming Eagle batters went 7-for-13 with eight RBI and seven runs scored.

USI junior catcher Haley Hodges led the offensive charge for the Screaming Eagles, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, three runs and three RBI. The Screaming Eagles also received two hits and three RBI from Caitlyn Bradley and two RBI from Marleah Fossett.

USI starting pitcher Haylee Smith picked up the win in the circle for the Screaming Eagles, allowing no runs and five hits in three innings of work. Lewis freshman hurler Paige Fossey (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) took the loss, surrendering seven runs - two earned - and five hits in 0.2 innings pitched.

Lewis juniors Carly Jaworski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and Dani Knaak (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) each went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Flyers.

GAME TWO
Southern Indiana 7, Lewis 6
Box Score (PDF) / Box Score (HTML)
WP: Owens (11-3); LP: Schweickert (3-8)
HR: Prieto (3)

Lewis rallied from an early two-run deficit, but was unable to complete a second comeback, as the Flyers dropped a 7-6 decision to Southern Indiana in game two.

USI took a 2-0 lead after two innings, but the Flyers surged past in the bottom of the third as sophomore left fielder Kaylee Prieto (Chicago, Ill./Marist) launched a grand slam to give Lewis a 4-2 advantage. Prieto (2-for-3, 5 RBI, 2 runs) has hit three home runs in her last four games.

The Screaming Eagles, however, responded with five unanswered runs to take a 7-4 lead into the seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Hodges in the sixth.

The Flyers attempted one final rally in the seventh, as Prieto notched a one-out RBI double and scored on a throwing error by relief pitcher Haylee Smith. Smith, however, recovered and struck out the final two batters to secure the save.

USI starting pitcher Sarah Owens earned the win for the Screaming Eagles, allowing four runs and five hits, while fanning five batters. Lewis starting pitcher Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) scattered seven runs and eight hits, while walking eight batters in a losing effort.