Eagles fly through Oaks, 15-6

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball banged out 18 hits in flying through Oakland City University, 15-6, Wednesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 11-25 overall, while OCU goes to 24-18 this spring.
 
USI led from the opening frame, posting a tally in the first, before exploding for 12 runs between the third and sixth innings to lead 13-0. The Eagles took command with six in the third and sealed the victory with five in fourth and one more in the fifth.
 
Oakland City, however, was not ready for game to end early, cutting the margin to seven runs with six unanswered tallies between the sixth and eighth frames. The Mighty Oaks posted one in the sixth, three in the seventh, and two in the eighth to close to within 13-7.
 
USI responded with two more runs in the eighth to close out the scoring in the 15-6 victory.
 
At the plate, senior second baseman/rightfielder Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) led the offensive explosion by going four-for-five with three runs scored and two RBIs. Junior first baseman Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) was one-for-one with a home run, a three-run blast in the fourth, and four RBIs overall, while junior designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) was two-for-four with two runs scored and a two-run home run in the third.
 
USI junior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) led seven Eagle hurlers and picked up his first win of the season. Robinson (1-1), who struck out a season-high five batters, blanked the Mighty Oaks through the first four frames on one hit and three walks.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
USI, which is 3-9 in conference action, continues the five-game homestand this weekend when it hosts a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with Eastern Illinois University April 21-23. The first pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m., continues Saturday at 2 p.m., and concludes Sunday at noon.
 
The series between USI and EIU tilts toward the Panthers, who hold an 18-5 series margin. EIU has won the last four meetings, taking the last meeting in 2002, 7-3, at USI. The last time the Eagles were victorious over the Panthers was in 1986 when USI won the first half of a doubleheader, 3-1.  
 
EIU is 21-13 overall in the 2023, 3-6 in the OVC, and has won four-straight games after posting a 5-0 win St. Xavier University Wednesday.