The University of Southern Indiana baseball team advanced to the Great Lakes Valley Conference “Championship Sunday” after eliminating Missouri University of Science & Technology, 10-0, and defeating the University of Indianapolis, 9-5, Saturday afternoon in the GLVC Tournament at U.S. Baseball Field in Ozark, Missouri. USI watched its record go to 32-20 overall, while Missouri S&T finishes the season, 26-26, and UIndy falls to 30-22.
The Screaming Eagles advance to “Championship Sunday” and a rematch with the UIndy Greyhounds at 9 a.m. for the right to play for the GLVC title Sunday afternoon. The GLVC Championship game will be played at 12:30 p.m. if Quincy University, the only undefeated team left in the tournament, defeats Bellarmine University in Saturday’s final contest at 7:30 p.m.
If Bellarmine defeats Quincy, the Knights and the Hawks would play an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. before the GLVC Championship game at 4 p.m.
USI 6, Missouri S&T 0:Â
USI senior right-hand Kyle Griffin (Morganfield, Kentucky) threw eight shutout innings and posted a season-high with 11 strikeouts to lead the Eagles to a 10-0 victory. Griffin (5-3) also scattered five hits in his longest outing of the year and became the third USI hurler to reach five wins in 2018.
The 10 strikeouts marked the fourth time in Griffin’s USI career that he has reach double-digit strikeouts. He recorded 11 versus the University of Illinois Springfield and 12 versus Saint Joseph’s College in 2017 and a 10 strikeout game versus the University of Wisconsin-Parkside earlier this spring.
The Eagles provided all of the runs Griffin would need in the third inning, scoring twice, before sealing the victory with a pair of four-run frames in the eighth and ninth. Senior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) pushed the first run across in the third with a fielder’s choice, while senior first baseman Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) plated the second tally on a RBI-double.
USI would seal the victory with a four-run eighth. Junior designated hitter Brodie Brown (Carmi, Illinois) ignited the rally with a bases-loaded RBI-single, while senior third baseman Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) made the score, 4-0, with a sacrifice fly.
USI junior catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) increased the lead to 5-0 on a RBI-single up the middle before freshman shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) finished the scoring in the eighth with a RBI-ground out for a 6-0 advantage.
The Eagles capped off the scoring with another four-spot in the ninth inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Brodie Brown and a RBI-double by Griggs. Brodie Brown finished the team with a team-high three RBIs, while Logan Brown and Griggs followed with two RBIs each.
USI 9, UIndy 5:
The Eagles built and 8-0 lead before holding on to defeat the UIndy Greyhounds, 9-5, in Saturday’s 4 p.m. game of the GLVC Tournament. USI senior first baseman Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles with four hits and three runs scored in the victory.
The USI offense got going early with two runs in the second and one in the third to lead 3-0. The Eagles extended the lead to 8-0 with a five-run fourth inning that showcased RBI-doubles by senior leftfielder Drake McNamara and junior catcher Logan Brown and a two-run single by junior third baseman Sam Griggs.Â
UIndy would respond with a pair of tallies in the sixth and a trio of runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 8-5 after seven frames. Gobert would score his third run of the game to push the lead back to 9-5 on a RBI-fielder’s choice by junior designated hitter Brodie Brown.
On the mound, junior left-hander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana) reached the four-win plateau after allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and three walks. Partain (4-1) also struck out four in 6.2 innings of work.
Senior right-hander Nick Coudret (Newburgh, Indiana) followed Partain with 1.1 innings of work, giving up an unearned run on four hits. Gobert finished the game for the Eagles by striking out the side in the ninth.
Continuing coverage of Eagles baseball games this post-season can be found on GoUSIEagles.com. Watch Twitter, Facebook, and GoUSIEagles.com for any schedule changes due to weather.
