Eagles downed by Cougars, 10-3

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball had the lead early, but stumbled game one of three at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 10-3, Friday evening at in Edwardsville, Illinois. USI watched its record go to 14-27 overall, 5-11 OVC, while SIUE is 23-18, 6-7 OVC, this spring.
 
USI had the early momentum by jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame on back-to-back home runs. Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) gave the Eagles the 1-0 lead with his first home run of the season, sending the ball over the right center.
 
USI junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin Texas) followed with his team-best ninth home run of the season to put the Eagles up 2-0.
 
The Eagles’ lead would last until the fourth when the Cougars would add five runs to a first inning tally to take a 6-2 lead. USI closed the gap to 6-3 in the top of the fifth on a RBI-single by junior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan), but that would be a close as the Eagles would come the rest of the game.
 
SIUE sealed USI’s fate with a four run sixth for the eventual 10-3 final.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Robinson (1-2) allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits and four walks, while striking out three in 3.1 innings of work.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
The Eagles and the Cougars continue the three-game series at SIUE’s Roy E. Lee Field Saturday at 1 p.m. before concluding the weekend Sunday at 1 p.m.