EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball was outslugged by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 14-10, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 15-32 overall and 6-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Little Rock is 27-17 overall, 12-5 OVC.
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After spotting the Trojans a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the Screaming Eagles soared into the lead with four in the bottom half of the opening frame. Senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) put the Eagles on the scoreboard with a two-run single, while junior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) tied the game with a RBI-fielder’s choice and junior catcher Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) doubled in the fourth run for the 4-3 lead.
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Little Rock bounced back with a second-straight inning of three runs in the top of the second to regain the lead, 6-4. The Trojans would hold the lead until the third when the Eagles exploded with a five-run frame.
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USI freshman third baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) ignited the Eagle rally by knocking in Tachioka with a bases-loaded ground out. Senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) put USI back into the lead, 7-6, with a two-run single before sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) doubled in the eighth run and junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Aust, Texas) finished the frame with a sacrifice fly and a 9-6 advantage.
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From that point the Little Rock bats took over, scoring eight unanswered runs to post a 14-9 lead after eight innings. USI got one of the runs back in the ninth before Little Rock closed out the 14-10 decision.
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USI sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) took the loss for the Eagles in relief. Hutson (1-6) allowed five runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks, while striking out one in 1.2 innings.
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Up Next for the Eagles:Â Â
The USI-Little Rock three-game series concludes Sunday with USI’s Senior Day and a noon start. USI’s nine seniors – first baseman Adam Wildeman; pitcher Brady Bowling; infielder Alex Archuleta; outfielder Gavin McLarty; infielder/designated hitter Daniel Lopez; outfielder Evan Kahre; infielder/catcher Lucas McNew; manager Emily Papandria; student assistant coach A.J. Wheeler – will be honored at 11:30 a.m. with an on-field ceremony.
USI will be on the road for six of the final seven games of the 2023 regular season beginning next weekend with a visit to Oral Robert University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 12-14. The final week of the 2023 regular season has the Eagles returning home to host Ball State University May 16 before finishing out the 2023 OVC slate with a three-game series at Tennessee Tech University May 18-20.
