MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not overcome a four-run third in falling to the University of Tennessee at Martin, 7-3, Saturday afternoon in Martin, Tennessee. USI watched its record go to 9-25 overall and 2-9 in the OVC, while UTM goes to 11-25, 6-5 OVC, this spring.
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USI got on the board first with a tally in the second inning when junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) scored on a ground out by sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela). The Screaming Eagles held the lead until the bottom of the third when UTM posted four runs to lead, 4-1.
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The Skyhawks increased the lead to 5-1 with another tally in the fourth before the Eagles could respond in the sixth. USI cut the deficit to 5-2 with a RBI-single by junior rightfielder Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana).
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After UTM got the tally back in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-2 advantage, USI cut into the deficit for the second-straight inning when Van Grieken scored on a sacrifice foul out by junior second baseman Nolan Cook (Evansville, Indiana) to make the score 6-3. That would be a close as the Eagles would come in the final frames as the Skyhawks added one more in the eighth for the 7-3 final.
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On the mound, freshman left-hander Will Kiesel (Wadesville, Indiana) suffered the loss for the Eagles. Kiesel allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out one in three innings of work.
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Up Next for the Eagles:Â Â
The three-game series with USI and UTM concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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Following Sunday’s game, USI comes home to start a five game homestand at the USI Baseball Field Tuesday when it hosts Oakland City University for a 6 p.m. contest. Following the USI-OCU match-up, the Eagles host a three-game OVC series with Eastern Illinois University April 21-23 prior to concluding the homestand with a 6 p.m. contest with McKendree University April 25.
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