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CHARLESTON, Ill. - Southern Indiana picked up crucial hits and made a big defensive play at the plate as they won the rubber game of the weekend Ohio Valley Conference series over Eastern Illinois, 2-0 on Saturday at Williams Field.

EIU falls to 20-15 overall, 9-2 in the OVC.  USI improved to 14-17 overall, 8-6 in the OVC.

Just like Friday's series opener, starting pitchers Olivia Price for EIU and Josie Newman for USI looked sharp in the circle.
 
Price had good early defense playing behind her as the Panthers turned double plays in both the second and third innings to end early Southern Indiana threats.
 
Newman used the strikeout as one of her weapons striking out two straight to end the fourth after EIU place runners at second and third.  Kendall Grover had a one out double for EIU in the inning followed by a single by Aniya Holt that eventually ended with Holt at second base.
 
In the fifth USI was the first team to break through as Hailey Gotshall opened the inning with a single up the middle.  Gotshall was 2-for-3 in the game, one of two USI players with multiple hits.  After a sacrifice bunt and infield ground out to the right side moved pinch runner Emma Tucher to third, Rachel Martinez had the big hit with an RBI single.  Martinez finished 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
EIU had a chance to counter in its half of the fifth placing runners at first and second with one out.  Lindy Milkowski singled down the left field line and Aryn Henke was thrown out at the plate as she tried to score the tying run from second.  Kennedy Nalley made the throw from left for the assist.  The next batter would fly out to end the inning.
 
Newman (12-7) struck out two of the final seven batters to finish with eight strikeouts to pick up the win.
 
Price (8-3) allowed an unearned run in the sixth on an RBI single by Allie Goodin as she suffered the loss.
 
EIU had four hits in the game with Grover, Holt and Milkowski joined by Jaylen Prichard.