University of Southern Indiana Baseball won its fifth-straight game by outslugging Bellarmine University, 12-7, Tuesday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles, who scored 12 runs on 17 hits, move their record to 16-8 overall and 9-3 in the GLVC, while the Knights go to 13-12, 6-6 GLVC.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the first on a two-run blast by freshman catcher Lucas McNew(Floyds Knobs, Indiana). McNew’s team-best sixth home run of the season would stand up until the bottom of the third when Bellarmine scored five times to take a 5-2 lead.
After the Knights extended the lead to 6-2 with a tally in the fourth, USI exploded for five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double by sophomore designated hitter Aaron Euler (Evansville, Indiana) to tie the score, 6-6, and a RBI-single by freshman centerfielder Bryson McNay (Sellersburg, Indiana) for a 7-6 lead.
USI would extend the lead to 10-6 in the seventh before junior rightfielder Manny Lopez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) hit a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, to seal the victory and put USI up 7-6.
Bellarmine picked up a run in the ninth before USI closed the door on the 12-7 victory.
At the plate, Lopez finished with a team-high four hits, including a home run and a double, and four RBIs. Euler followed with three RBIs, while senior first baseman Nathan Kuester (Rockport, Indiana) had three hits and three runs scored.
USI freshman left-hander Sammy Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) posted his first collegiate win in relief. Barnett (1-1) pitched a scoreless fifth and faced one batter in the sixth, allowing two hits, to get the victory.
Junior right-hander Jacob Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) started for the Eagles and got the no decision. Bowles, who was making his second start of the year, allowed six runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out one in four innings of work.
