The University of Southern Indiana baseball team scored 11 times in the first three frames and cruised to a 16-5 victory over the University of Missouri-St. Louis in a non-conference game Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri. USI watches its record go to 8-9 overall, while UMSL goes to 8-10 in 2018.
The Screaming Eagles took command from the first pitch, scoring five in the first, four in the second, and two in the third to lead 11-1. USI, which reached double-digits in runs for the first time this season and led by as many as 13 runs during the contest, finished out the scoring with one in the fifth and sixth and three in the eighth.
The Eagles’ offensive surge was led by senior first baseman Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and junior catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana). McNamara finished the game four for four with two runs scored, three doubles, and four RBIs, while Brown was two for four with four RBIs. McNamara’s four hits tied a career-best and Brown’s four RBIs established a new career-high.
On the mound, USI junior left-hander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana) went the first three frames for the Eagles. Partain allowed two runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out two.
Senior designated hitter/pitcher Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) followed for the next four frames to earn the win. Gobert (1-2) allowed one run on four hits and a walk with four strike outs.
The final two innings went to sophomore left-hander Trevor Salmon (Noblesville, Indiana) and sophomore right-hander Jordan Kelly (Carbondale, Illinois). Salmon threw a scoreless eighth inning, while Kelly finished the game by allowing two runs in the ninth.
The Eagles return to the USI Baseball Field this weekend to start a 13-game homestand that will span March 24 to April 11. The start of the homestand also is the beginning of the 2018 GLVC slate when the University of Illinois Springfield comes to Evansville for a four-game slate on March 24-25.
USI leads the all-time series with Illinois Springfield, 20-4, after taking three of the five games last season. The Eagles took three of four on the road versus the Prairie Stars in Springfield, Illinois, but lost the meeting in the GLVC Tournament in Springfield, Missouri. McNamara and junior second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana) batted over .500 in the five games with the Stars, hitting .545 (6-11) and .533 (8-15), respectively. Brown tied for the team lead with four RBIs.
