USI falls late to Ball State

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball allowed seven runs in the seventh and fell to Ball State University, 10-4, Tuesday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 2-6 to start the season, while Ball State goes 5-3.
 
USI jumped out in front, 2-0, by manufacturing a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) was forced in on a walk by junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) for the first tally before junior shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) crossed the plate with USI’s second run after freshman rightfielder Ethan Rothschild (Evansville, Indiana) reached on an error.
 
After Ball State picked up a tally in the top of the third, USI posted its second-straight two-run frame in the bottom of the third. Thompson-Allen lined a two-run tripled down the left field line to get the scoring going in third, plating freshman leftfielder Cameron Boyd (Villa Hills, Kentucky) and senior designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) for a 4-0 lead.
 
Ball State chipped away at the USI lead with a tally in the fourth and the sixth to close to within one, 4-3, before exploding for seven runs to grab an 10-4 advantage. The Cardinals would cruise through the final two innings to grab the 10-4 decision.
 
In the game at the plate for USI, Thompson-Allen led the Eagles by going two-for-five with a triple and two RBI. Ebest also was two-for-five with a run scored and a double.
 
USI junior right-hander Gage Smith (Garrett, Indiana) took loss in relief as the Eagles used 10 hurlers in the game. Smith (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits in a third of an inning in the seventh.