EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team explode for 22 runs in the nightcap to get a split with McKendree University on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles lost the opener, 10-9, before getting a 22-1 win in the nightcap.
USI watched its record go to 25-18 overall and 12-8 in the GLVC, while McKendree ends the day 8-34, 3-16 GLVC.
Prior to the doubleheader, USI honored its seven seniors – infielder Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana); infielder/pitcher Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana); pitcher Devin Williams (Evansville, Indiana); outfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky); pitcher Kyle Griffin(Morganfield, Kentucky); pitcher Nick Coudret (Newburgh, Indiana); and outfield/infielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana).
Game 1:Â
The Eagles left the tying run on third base and lost the opening game, 10-9. McKendree scored all 10 of their runs on four home run, including three three-run blasts.
After the Bearcats plated six runs in the first on a pair three-run shots, USI cut the lead in half with three runs in the third to make the score, 6-3. McKendree re-extended the lead to six with three more in the fifth before the Eagles pulled to within four, 9-5, with a pair in the fifth on a RBI-single by senior rightfielder Buddy Johnson and a RBI-ground out by junior designated hitter Jayden Beshears (Evansville, Indiana).
The Bearcats got the eventual deciding run in the top of the seventh with a solo shot to put the margin at 10-5. USI tried to comeback in the bottom of the seventh senior first baseman Nick Gobert started a four-run frame with a home run to seventh, his second of the season.
The Eagles closed the gap to one, 10-9, after senior third baseman Sam Griggs drove in a run by reaching on an error and freshman centerfielder Bryce Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) plated a pair with a two-single to right center. USI’s rally, however, stalled with the tying run on third as McKendree closed out the 10-9 win.
On the mound, senior right-hander Kyle Griffin started and took the loss for the Eagles. Griffin (3-3) allowed six runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five in 3.1 innings of work.
Game 2:Â
USI second baseman Jacob Fleming hit for the cycle and the Eagles blasted five home runs to pound McKendree, 22-1, in the nightcap. The Eagles’ offense scored in each of six at-bats, including a 10-run third inning that saw USI send 14 hitters to the plate.
Fleming became the first Eagle to hit for the complete cycle in a game, going four-for-five in the nightcap. The junior second baseman homered in his first at-bat of the nightcap before getting a single and two-run triple in the third inning and a two-out double in the fourth inning.
In addition to Fleming’s first round-tripper of the year, the Eagles also got game-two home runs from senior leftfielder Drake McNamara, his eighth of the year; junior first baseman Jayden Beshears, his third of the year; junior leftfielder Spencer Deom (Tell City, Indiana), his first of the year; and freshman shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana), his first of the year.
On the mound, junior left-hander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana) posted his third win of the season. Partain (3-1) threw six innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks and striking out one.
Next up for the Eagles:Â
The final regular-season home game is Tuesday when the University of Missouri-St. Louis visits USI for a 6 p.m. non-conference contest at the USI Baseball Field. The Eagles lead the series with UMSL, 53-42, after defeating the Tritons in March, 16-5, on the road.
USI finishes the 2018 regular season next weekend when it visits the University of Indianapolis for a Friday and Sunday four-game series. The first half of the series was moved up from Saturday to Friday due the UIndy graduation. First pitch for Friday and Sunday is slated for 11 a.m. (CDT) each day.
The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Greyhounds, 54-52, after sweeping a four-game set at the USI Baseball Field in 2017.
