Eagles knock off Redhawks, 9-6

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball rallied to knocked off Southeast Missouri State University, 9-6, Friday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 9-21 and 2-6 in the OVC, while SEMO goes to 17-16, 6-2 OVC.
 
The Redhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead after an inning-and-a-half, scoring on a first inning solo shot and a second inning two-run blast.
 
USI rallied to take a 5-3 lead with five unanswered runs in the bottom of the second and third frames. Eagles’ junior first baseman Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) closed the gap to 3-2 in the second with a two-run bullet over the left center fence, while junior leftfielder Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) gave USI a 5-3 lead with a bases-clearing, three-run double in the third.
 
SEMO chipped away at the two-run USI advantage and tied the game with a single tally in the fourth and fifth innings. The Eagles took back the lead in the bottom of the fifth, 6-5, on a RBI-single by junior rightfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana), scoring Ellis, who singled and stole second to get into scoring position.
 
USI would go on to extend the lead in the fifth to 7-5 when junior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) knocked in Molinet with a single to right field. McLarty sealed the victory in the bottom of the sixth when he drove in his fourth and fifth runs of the contest to increase the lead to four runs, 9-5.
 
The USI hurlers took over from that point, blanking SEMO in the three of the final four innings, allowing a tallying in the ninth before closing out the 9-6 victory. USI sophomore right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) picked the win in relief, throwing the four-plus in the final five frames.
 
Seebold (2-3) allowed two runs on three hits, three walks, and four hit batters, while striking out a season-high six in 4.1 innings of work. Sophomore right-hander Adam Weihe (Louisville, Kentucky) picked up his first save of the season after getting the Eagles out of the ninth inning bases-loaded jam, allowing an inherited runner on one hit.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
The Eagles and the Redhawks conclude the three-game set Saturday with a noon contest at the USI Baseball Field.  
 
Following Saturday’s series finale, USI continues the four-game homestand Tuesday when it hosts St. Louis University for the second game of a home-and-home series in 2023. The Eagles took the first game of the series on the road, 10-2, on March 14. USI senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) led the Eagles with three hits and three runs scored in the victory.