CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball overpowered by Southeast Missouri State University, 12-2, Sunday afternoon in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. USI is 15-21 overall and 5-7 in the OVC, while SEMO goes to 18-18, 8-4 OVC.
The Screaming Eagles had the early lead, 1-0, with a tally in the first inning. USI senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) pushed senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) across the plate with a RBI-single to center with one out.
The Redhawks took the momentum and command in the second inning with a pair of runs and began a streak of scoring in three-straight innings to lead, 8-1. SEMO had three home runs in the dash through the three innings.
USI tried to get the offense jump stared in the seventh with back-to-back doubles by sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) and Ebest, who finished the day two-for-two with two RBIs, to close the gap to 8-2. SEMO, however, would end the game in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to conclude the 12-2 final.
On the bump, USI junior right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) took the loss, going 1.1 innings before leaving game with an injury. Morris allowed two runs on three hits.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field for a five-game homestand. The homestand starts Tuesday at 6 p.m. with a non-conference visit from Western Kentucky University; follows April 19-20 with a three-game OVC series versus the University of Tennessee at Martin; and concludes April 23 with a non-conference contest with Belmont University.
The Hilltoppers are 25-12 after winning a three-game series at Sam Houston State University. WKU is 8-2 in the last 10 games.
WKU leads the all-time series with USI, 9-2, after defeating the Eagles in March, 5-3. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) led the USI hitters with two hits, while sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus had two of the three USI RBIs.
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