USI falls short in OVC opener, 3-2 Eagles strand tying, winning run in the 9th

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball left the tying and winning runs on base in losing the Ohio Valley Conference opener to Morehead State University, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 7-15, while Morehead State goes to 11-10.
 
The Morehead State Eagles scored all of the runs they would in a three-run third inning. Morehead State scored the three tallies on two hits and a walk for the 3-0 lead.
 
USI’s bats would remain silent until the fifth when senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) got the Eagles’ first hit of the game. The Eagles’ offense would remain dormant until the final two frames.
 
The first USI run crossed the plate in the eighth when freshman third baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) drove in junior pinch hitter Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana) with a RBI-single to make the score, 3-1. Taylor had moved into scoring position with a lead-off double to right field.
 
In the ninth, the Eagles loaded the bases with nobody out on a single by senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), a single by junior leftfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan), and a walk by junior pinch hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana). Following a strikeout by junior rightfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana), McNew crossed the plate with the second USI run of the day on a ground out by junior pinch hitter Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Tachioka and Ellis, who moved up to second and third on the McLarty ground out, were stranded to end the game when Kahre struck out looking to end game, 3-2.
 
On the mound, the Eagles got a strong performance from sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) despite getting the loss. Hutson (1-4) allowed the three runs in the third on six hits and two walks, while striking out a career-high tying seven in seven-plus innings of action. The seven innings also was Hutson’s longest outing of the season.
 
USI junior right-hander Carter Stamm (Jasper, Indiana) and junior left-hander Blake Ciuffetelli (Newburgh, Indiana) finished the game on the mound for the Eagles, throwing a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
USI and Morehead State conclude the series Sunday with a noon doubleheader. The second game was rescheduled from Friday evening due to rain.