The University of Southern Indiana baseball team concluded its four-game series at Lewis University with a doubleheader split Sunday afternoon in Romeoville, Illinois. USI took the opening game, 9-1, but missed a chance at winning the series by stumbling in game two, 5-4.
The Screaming Eagles watched their record go to 24-16 overall and 15-5 in the GLVC, while Lewis goes to 12-29 overall, 6-14 GLVC.
The split drops USI into a tie for first in the GLVC East Division after University of Illinois Springfield swept its second-straight doubleheader from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside this afternoon. USI holds the tie-breaker over Illinois Springfield by winning the series with the Prairie Stars last month.
In the opener, USI junior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and freshman centerfielder Spencer Deom (Newburgh, Indiana) homered in leading the Eagles to a 9-1 victory.
McNamara, who finished the game two-for-three with a run scored and three RBIs, had a two-run double and solo home run in his first two at-bats to ignite the Eagles’ offense. The home run was McNamara’s team-best sixth of the season.
Deom, whose two-run blast in the second inning was his second home run of the season, concluded the opener one-for-three with two runs scored and two RBIs. Senior designated hitter Jaylen Quarles (Indianapolis, Indiana) and sophomore catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) also drove in a pair of RBIs in the victory.
Senior right-handed starter Colin Nowak (Carol Stream, Illinois) recorded his fifth win of the season and moved into a tie for first in victories on the team this spring. Nowak (5-3) struck out three in five innings of work, allowing one run on a home run.
In the nightcap, Lewis scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to win a back-and-forth battle, 5-4. USI had a 3-0 lead in the fourth and a 4-3 lead after seven-and-a-half innings before Lewis rallied for the win.
McNamara fueled the Eagles offense for the second game in a row with two RBIs, while junior rightfielder Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) had a pair of hits and scored a run.
Freshman right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) took the loss in relief. Hagedorn (1-3) allowed two runs on three hits, striking out two, in the eighth inning.
Sophomore right-hander Austin Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) started and got a no decision. Krizan allowed two runs on seven hits, striking out one in five innings, before giving way to the bullpen. Senior right-hander Mike Ringer relieved Krizan in the sixth and allowed a run on one hit in two frames of work.
USI completes the five-game road swing Tuesday when it visits Kentucky Wesleyan College for a 2 p.m. game. The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field next weekend when they host the University of Indianapolis for a four-game series. The USI-UIndy doubleheader on April 30 is Senior Day for the Eagles.
