University of Southern Indiana Baseball remained tied for second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference after splitting a doubleheader with Missouri University Science & Technology Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI lost the opener, 9-4, but bounced back to win the nightcap, 6-1.
The Screaming Eagles move their record to 17-9 overall and 10-4 in the GLVC, while the Miners go to 17-8, 10-4 GLVC.
Game 1:
The Eagles fell behind early and was unable to make up the difference in falling in the opening game, 9-4.
After the Miners built a 2-0 lead with single tallies in the second and third, USI cut the deficit in half, 2-1, in the fifth when freshman centerfielder Bryson McNay(Sellersburg, Indiana) scored on a fielder’s choice. Missouri S&T responded with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth for the 4-1 advantage before USI senior first baseman Nathan Kuester (Rockport, Indiana) crushed a solo shot to center field to get the Eagles to 4-2.
The Miners re-extended the lead to three runs, 5-2, with a tally in the seventh and sealed the Eagles’ fate in game one with four more in the ninth for a 9-4 decision.
USI senior right-hander Austin Gossmann (Avon, Indiana) started and suffered his first loss of the season. Gossman allowed five runs on 11 hits and a walk through 6.2 innings of work, while tying a season-high 11 strikeouts.
Game 2:
USI freshman catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) hit a two run bomb in the first inning and senior right-hander Austin Krizan  (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) threw seven strong innings to lead the Eagles to a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.
McNew hit his team-best seventh home run in his first at-bat, a two-run blast to left center, to put the Eagles up 2-0 and all of the runs USI would need in the nightcap. USI followed with a run in the fourth and three more in the sixth to lead, 6-0, after six frames. Senior second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana) highlighted the three-run sixth with a two-run single to complete the rally.
USI junior rightfielder Manny Lopez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) led the Eagles at the plate in game two, going three-for-three with a run scored and a RBI.
Krizan (4-0) moved into a tie for first on the team in wins by pitching a strong seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and one walk. The senior right-hander also tied a career-best with eight strikeouts in the victory.
USI junior right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) finished the game for Krizan, scattering a hit and a walk in two innings of work.
