Eagles upset #7 Trevecca Nazarene, 11-3

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball continued to roll against ranked teams, posting an 11-3 victory over seventh-ranked Trevecca Nazarene University Friday to start a three-game series at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles are 6-1 to start the year, while Trevecca is 10-2 in 2022.   
 
The USI win broke Trevecca’s winning streak against the GLVC this spring. Nine of the 10 Trevecca’s wins this spring came against the GLVC’s Rockhurst University, Lewis University, and Truman State University.
 
USI grabbed a first inning lead, 1-0, when junior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) doubled in senior shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) from second with one out. Hunter had reached on a walk and stole second to get into scoring position.
 
After the Trojans scored twice in the top of the second to take the lead, USI rebound to knot the game at 2-2 when sophomore second baseman Nolan Cook (Evansville, Indiana) doubled in sophomore third baseman Tyler Wheeler (Sellersburg, Indiana) from first.
 
The score would remain tied until the top of the fifth when Trevecca took a 3-2 lead on a wild pitch by senior right-hander Brice Stuteville (Rockport, Indiana). The Eagles rebounded with a five-run bottom half of the inning with the aid of a Trevecca error.
 
Hunter got the scoring started in the fifth, crossing the plate on a fielder’s choice. McNew brought in the second run of the frame on a throwing error before sophomore centerfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) knocked in a run on a single and Cook finished the scoring with a two-run single to left for a 7-3 lead.
 
The Eagles increased the margin to 11-3 with a four-run eighth. McNew struck again with a two-triple down the right field line before sophomore leftfielder Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) blasted a two-run shot over the centerfield wall to set the 11-3 final.
 
For the game at the plate, McNew, Robinson, and Cook led the way with three RBIs each in the victory.
 
On the mound, Stuteville (1-0) was nearly perfect for the Eagles in six-plus innings of relief work on the mound. The senior right-hander picked up his first win of the year by allowing one run on four hits and three walks in addition to striking out six batters.
 
Junior left-hander Sammy Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) finished the game for USI getting the final three outs of the ninth and stranding the bases loaded full of Trojans. USI junior right-hander Garrett Welch (New Castle, Indiana) made an abreviated start, only going the first two innings. Welch allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out two.