Eagles split a marathon doubleheader with Panthers

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball split a marathon doubleheader with Eastern Illinois University Saturday at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles took the opening game, 26-6, while the Panthers snatched the nightcap, 22-12.
 
USI watched its record go to 12-26 overall, 4-10 OVC, while EIU goes to 22-14, 4-7 OVC.
 
Game 1:
USI, which reached a season-best three-game winning streak with the victory, scored a season-high 26 runs on 19 hits and 15 walks in the opening game, 26-6 win. The Eagles scored seven in the third, 11 in the fourth, four in the fifth, three in the seventh, and one in the eight in cruising to the victory.
 
USI senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) led way for the Eagles with a career-high six RBIs, including a grand slam in the seven run third inning. Junior rightfielder/centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) followed with career-best four RBIs, two coming on a home run in the fifth.
 
Senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), who is hitting .500 (8-16) in the last four games, had a team-best four hits in six at-bats, while scoring a team-best five runs in the victory.  
 
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Adam Weihe (Louisville, Kentucky) picked up the win in relief. Weihe (1-3) allowed three runs on eight hits and struck a season-high seven batters in five innings of work.
 
Sophomore right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) got the no-decision after going the first four frames. Morris allowed three runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out two.  
 
Game 2:
USI had the tables turned on them in the nightcap, falling 22-12. The Panthers had control of the game from the start, outscoring the Eagles, 17-1, after the first three-and-half frames.
 
The Eagles tried to battle back, outscoring EIU, 11-9, in the final five-and-a-half innings. Senior centerfielder Evan Kahre and junior catcher Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) led USI during the nightcap with four hits each. Stroh hit his second home run of the season and scored four times in game two.
 
USI freshman left-hander Will Kiesel (Wadesville, Indiana) started and took the loss, proceeding six Eagles to the bump. Kiesel (1-4) allowed four runs on three walks in the opening frame.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
USI and EIU conclude the three-game series Sunday at noon.
 
The Eagles’ five-game winning streak comes to an end Tuesday when they host former GLVC foe McKendree University for a 6 p.m. matchup. USI leads the all-time series with McKendree, 34-13; has won eight of the last 10 games; and will be playing the Bearcats for the first time since 2021 when the Eagles took three-of-four GLVC games.