EVANSVILLE, Ind. – An offensive slump handed the Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team a pair of losses on Wednesday night to nationally ranked No. 10 University of Southern Indiana.  The Panthers dropped an 8-0 decision in game one before being edged 2-1 in game two.  With the two defeats, Kentucky Wesleyan moves to 18-12 on the season.

Game One: Kentucky Wesleyan 8 – No. 10 University of Southern Indiana 0 (six innings)

The Panther bats went cold in game one, only tabbing two hits.  The Screaming Eagles wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the first with a two-run double.

The University of Southern Indiana extended its lead in the second with a pair of home runs and tacked on one run in the third with another RBI double.

Maddie Dawson and Jaylin Tidwell tabbed the lone hits for the Panthers.  Autumn Grady suffered her third loss of the season, pitching 1.2 innings, striking out one, and allowing six runs off of six hits and one walk.  In 3.2 innings of relief, Casey Smith struck out two and allowing two runs off of six hits and three walks.

Game Two: Kentucky Wesleyan 1 – No. 10 University of Southern Indiana 2

Kentucky Wesleyan outhit the Screaming Eagles five to four in game two, but Southern Indiana proved it was quality over quantity.  The Panthers didn't have a baserunner until the fourth innings when Dawson singled up the middle but a double play would end the inning.

Southern Indiana tallied one run in the first and another in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead entering the fifth inning.

With one out in the sixth, Jaylin Tempel knocked a double to left center to put a spark in the Panther offense.  Dawson reached on a fielding error to put runners on the corners for Tidwell.  Tidwell drove in Tempel with a single to the right side, making it a one-run game.

Mallory Nease started a rally in the top of seventh, singling up the middle with one out but a double play ended the game, giving the Panthers their second one-run loss in three games.

Dawson, Tidwell, Nease, Tempel and Courtney Lockwood each recorded one hit in game two with Tidwell driving in one run.  Maci Brown went the distance in her fourth loss of the season, striking out seven and allowing tow runs off of four hits and three walks.

The Panthers will be back in action this weekend with a four-game Great Midwest Athletic Conference series against Davis & Elkins.  The two teams will start a doubleheader at noon CT on Saturday and 10 am CT on Sunday.

Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCpanthers on Twitter and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page.