SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball was swept by the University of Illinois Springfield, 3-1 and 6-2, Friday afternoon in Springfield, Illinois. USI moves its record to 22-17 overall and 15-11 in the GLVC, while Illinois Springfield goes to 27-11-1, 17-9 GLVC.

Game 1: 
The Screaming Eagles could not overcome a two-run first inning and fell to the Prairie Stars, 3-1. Illinois Springfield countered USI’s second inning run with two in the first and a one in the eighth for the victory.

The Eagles scored their only run of the game in the second inning when junior designated hitter Manny Lopez (Santo Domingo, P.R.) scored on an RBI-single by sophomore shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana).

On the mound, senior right-hander Austin Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) suffered the loss despite a strong outing. Krizan (4-2), who permitted only one hit between the second and seventh frames, allowed three unearned runs on three hits and five walks, while striking out five in 7.1 innings of work.

Game 2: 
USI committed four errors and allowed three unearned runs in falling, 6-2, in the nightcap. The Stars took control with a run in the third, two in the fourth, and three in the fifth.

USI junior left-hander Paul Perez (Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela) suffered the loss on the mound. Perez (2-3) allowed the first five runs, two earned, on two hits and five walks, while striking out five.

The Eagles waited until the ninth to get the bats going. Sophomore leftfielder Aaron Euler (Evansville, Indiana) walked and advanced into scoring position on a double by junior designated hitter Manny Lopez before freshman third baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) doubled them for the only USI tallies in the nightcap. USI would leave the bases jammed when freshman pinch hitter Bryce McNay (Sellersburg, Indiana) made the final out.

Up Next for the Eagles: 
The Eagles and the Stars conclude the three-game series Saturday with the single game slated for a noon first pitch.

USI returns home next week and will play seven of the final eight games at the USI Baseball Field. The final two weeks of the 2019 regular season features a non-conference game with Oakland City University (April 23), a non-conference road game at Kentucky Wesleyan College (April 24), and three-game conference series with the University of Missouri-St. Louis (April 27-28) and Maryville University (May 3-4).