The University of Southern Indiana baseball team rallied with two runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the University of Evansville in the “Battle at the Braun”, 5-3, Wednesday evening. USI watched its record go to 22-17 overall, while Evansville ends the game 7-27.
The Screaming Eagles flew out to a 3-0 lead after three innings. Senior first baseman Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) plated senior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) in the first inning to give the Eagles a 1-0. McNamara, who finished with a team-high three hits, increased the lead to 3-0 in the third with a RBI-single and would later score on a wild pitch.
Evansville closed the gap to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth and tied the game, 3-3, with a tally in the bottom of the seventh.
USI regained the lead in the top of the ninth, 5-3, with the help of a pair of Evansville errors. Junior catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error before scoring when freshman shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) reached on a throwing error and advanced to third while attempting to sacrifice.
Hunter crossed the plate two batters later when he scored on a suicide squeeze by junior second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana) to extend the lead to two runs and the eventual 5-3 final.
USI senior right-hander Nick Coudret (Newburgh, Indiana) picked up his third win of the year, his second in relief. Coudret (3-2) dominated for 2.2 innings, striking out six batters and allowing two hits and a walk.
The Eagles got four strong innings from sophomore right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana), who was making his first career start for the Eagles. Hagedorn scattered five hits in a perfect four frames of work.
USI starts its final homestand of the 2018 regular season Saturday and Sunday when it hosts McKendree University for a four-game GLVC series. Game time Saturday is 2 p.m., while the first pitch Sunday is noon. Sunday also is Senior Day for the seven USI seniors.
The final regular-season home game is May 1 when the University of Missouri-St. Louis visits USI for a 6 p.m. contest.
