The 23rd-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team opened the 2017 campaign with a 5-3 loss at second-ranked University of Tampa Friday afternoon in Tampa, Florida. USI starts the year 0-1, while Tampa goes to 6-1 in 2017.
Game two of the three-game slate has been moved up to an 11 a.m. (CST) first pitch on Saturday due to the forecast of rain. The series finale is set for 11 a.m. (CST) Sunday
The Screaming Eagles spotted the Spartans a 5-0 lead after four innings as USI starting right-hander Kyle Griffin (Morganfield, Kentucky) allowed five runs, five earned, on nine hits and a walk through 3.1 innings. Griffin (0-1) took the loss in his USI debut.
USI would cut into the deficit in the fifth inning when junior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) hit his first home run of the season to make the score, 5-1. The Eagles closed the gap to 5-3 in the top of the seventh when junior centerfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky) lined a two-run double to left field.
Tampa would close out the game, 5-3, as USI stranded a runner in the seventh and the ninth.
On the mound for USI, freshman right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) closed out the game for the Eagles. Hagedorn went 4.2 innings in his USI debut and in relief of Griffin, allowing three hits and striking out five batters.
