By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Tennessee Tech took the lead in the fifth inning and made a case to avoid the sweep, but Southern Indiana tied the game, then walked the game off in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly to take the 4-3 win.

The Golden Eagles (10-23, 4-8 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action on Wednesday as they head to Louisville to take on Bellarmine in a single game. Tech returns to the OVC slate next week as it hosts Eastern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday at Tech Softball Field.

Abbee Klinefelter led the Golden Eagles at the plate as she went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Sydney Kirby had Tech's other hit in the contest, while Abby Shoulders scored twice and Bailee Stack once. Tech also drew five walks in the game.

Tech dented the scoreboard first as Klinefelter hit a single to center field to bring home Shoulders. In the bottom of the fourth, the Screaming Eagles plated two as Kate Satkoski doubled in Whitley Hunter and Josie Newman.

The Golden Eagles retook the lead in the fifth as Klinefelter's second single of the day brought Shoulders home to score, then Kirby's double to left center gave Bailee Stack room to score.

An error allowed USI to tie the game at three runs each in the bottom of the fifth, then Grace Huffman's one-out sacrifice fly to left sent Sydney Long scrambling for home and the win.

Peyton Wagner and Addison Abell nearly had identical lines, both throwing for 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs – one earned each. Wagner yielded three hits and two walks, while Abell gave up four hits with a walk. The pair combined for three strikeouts.

Newman went the distance for the win, allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits with five walks and eight strikeouts.