University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not overcome an eight-run deficit and fell to Kentucky Wesleyan College, 12-7, Tuesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI moves its record to 22-15 overall, while KWC goes to 18-17.
The Screaming Eagles led for one inning in the contest after senior second baseman Jacob Fleming(Evansville, Indiana) scored on an RBI-single by senior first baseman Nathan Kuester (Rockport, Indiana). The 1-0 lead would last until the second frame when KWC scored four times to take a 4-1 advantage.
The Panthers continued to rally in the third with five more runs for a game-best eight-run, 9-1 lead.
USI attempted to get back into the game with five unanswered runs by scoring four in the bottom of the third and one in the Eagles’ half of the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-6. KWC regained control in the fifth with a pairs runs to re-extend its lead to five runs, 11-6, and sealed the Eagles’ fate with a tally in the eighth before the 12-7 final.
Freshman catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) and sophomore centerfielder Bryce Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) led the Eagles at the plate with two hits and two RBIs each. Kuester also had a pair of hits as a part of the USI offensive attack.
On the mound, freshman left-hander Sammy Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) (3-2) started and took the loss among the four USI hurlers. USI pitchers allowed 12 runs, nine earned, on 12 hits and three walks.
