EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not hold an early lead and lost to the University of Evansville, 18-8, Tuesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped with the loss, is 25-27 overall, while UE go to 16-35.
The Screaming Eagles started the scoring early, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Both runs scored when junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens reached on an error that scored sophomore third baseman Parker Martin and senior centerfielder Khi Holiday.
USI increased the lead to 3-0 in the second when junior first baseman Kannon Coakley scored on a single by junior leftfielder Hunter Miller. The Eagles boosted the margin to 4-0 with another tally in the third on an RBI single by Kitchens, scoring Holiday for the second time.
The lead expanded to 7-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth and a single tally in the fifth. Junior shortstop Clayton Slack scored the first run of the fourth on a wild pitch, while Martin scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd for the 6-0 lead.
USI made it 7-0 in the fifth when senior leftfielder BJ Banyon, who pinch hit in the sixth, scored on a ground out by sophomore second baseman Anthony Umbach. UE took a stand and responded with seven runs off USI freshman right-handers Colin Wolfe and Marshall Loch in the top of the sixth to tie the game, 7-7.
The Eagles regained the lead, 8-7, in the bottom of the sixth when Kitchens scored on a UE error when Boyd stole second. The Aces got the run back in the top of the seventh to knot the game up at 8-8.
UE continued to roll offensively, plating five runs off four USI hurlers in the eighth inning to take command, 13-8. The Aces would continue the onslaught, adding five more in the ninth to round out the 18-8 final.
A highlight for USI at the plate was Boyd’s single in the sixth that extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Boyd’s 17-game streak tied Kitchens for the longest of the season.
Holiday also extended his streak of reaching base to 30-straight games, the longest of any Eagles this season. The last Eagle to reach base in 30 or more straight games was Manny Lopez, who reached in 36-straight in 2019.
On the mound, USI freshman right-hander Sage Stout took the loss for the Eagles in relief. Stout (1-3) allowed three runs on three hits, while striking out two in 1.1 innings of work.
USI senior left-hander Mason Sweeney started and got a no-decision in the contest. Sweeney threw two scoreless frames, striking out one. Sophomore right-hander Abdriel Figuerora followed Sweeney to the mound and added three more scoreless frames, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out two.
