MURRAY, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored eight times in the first three innings and cruised to a 10-5 win over Murray State University Tuesday evening in Murray, Kentucky. USI is 13-15 overall, while Murray State goes to 18-10.
USI senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) put the Screaming Eagles on the scoreboard in the first inning with a two-run double for the quick 2-0 lead. The Eagles finished the first frame by adding a third tally as senior catcher Tyler Kapust (Sellerburg, Indiana) laced a RBI-single through the right side for the 3-0 advantage.
After the Racers wasted little time in closing the gap to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, USI got both runs back in the top of the third. Kapust struck again to put USI up 5-2 with his second and third RBIs of the game on a single up the middle.
USI junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) continued the third inning rally with a two-run double to right field, while senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) followed with a RBI-single up the middle to finish the frame and put the Eagles up 8-2.
The Racers put a run across in the plate in the third and fourth to close the gap to 8-4. USI sophomore second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) re-extended the lead to five, 9-4, with a solo shot in the top of the sixth. The home run was Niehaus’ first of the season.
USI would seal the 10-5 victory in the top of the ninth when junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) hit solo home run to right field after Murray State had drawn to within four with a tally in the sixth.
On the mound, junior right-hander Carson Seeman (Auburn, California) picked up the win in relief. Seeman (2-1) blanked the Racers over two innings and struck out two in two innings.
USI senior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) started and picked up the no-decision for the Eagles. Robinson was touched for four runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out two in three innings.
