Eagles Sweeps DH, Series From Trojans
- EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball swept a doubleheader and the series with a pair wins over Trevecca Nazarene University Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles move their record to 4-2 overall, while the Trojans go to 3-6 after the weekend.Game 1:
The Eagles rallied twice, including a two-run bottom of the ninth, to defeat the Trojans, 7-6 in the opening game. The win marked USI’s second-straight walk-off victory.
Trevecca jumped out in front early, scoring three times in the first three innings, and upped the lead to 4-0 with a tally in the sixth. USI tied the score, 4-4, in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run triple by senior right fielder Manny Lopez and an RBI-sacrifice fly to center field by junior third baseman Ethan Hunter.
Lopez gave the Eagles their first lead of the game in the eight with his first home run of the season to left field, 7-6. The Trojans regained the lead, 8-7, with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth and set the stage for the Eagles in the bottom half of the inning.
After loading the bases, USI tied the score when freshman left fielder Austin Moody drove in a run after being hit with a pitch and walked off with the win when sophomore catcher/first baseman Lucas McNew drove an RBI single to left field.
Senior right-hander Jacob Bowles picked up his first victory of the season and the day after getting the Eagles out of the top of the ninth after freshman right-hander Trent Robinson allowed two tallies to open the frame.
Sophomore right-hander Garrett Welch started the game for USI, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings of work. Sophomore left-hander Sammy Barnett and junior right-hander Brady Bowling blanked the Trojans in back-to-back innings.
Game 2:
Four USI hurlers combined to hold Trevecca to one run as the Eagles completed the doubleheader sweep, 4-1, in the nightcap.Senior right-hander Paul Perez started and allowed one run over six innings, holding the Trojans scoreless over the first five innings. Perez was followed to the bump by senior right-hander Jacob Bowles, who picked up his second win of the day after throwing a scoreless seventh.
The Eagles got a scoreless eighth from junior right-hander Brady Bowling before senior right-hander Jordan Menfee picked up his first save of the year by blanking Trevecca in the ninth.
Offensively, USI jumped out in front in the fifth when freshman centerfielder Steven Molinet singled in senior catcher Wyatt Daly for the 1-0 lead. USI scored the eventual winning runs in the bottom of the seventh when a Trojans throwing error plated a pair of runs for the 3-1 lead.
The Eagles sealed the 4-1 victory with a tally in the eighth on an RBI-triple by senior shortstop Kobe Stephens, plating junior third baseman Ethan Hunter.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI conclude their six-game homestand next weekend when its host 10th-ranked Ashland University February 28-March 1. USI leads the all-time series with the Ashland Eagles, 15-8, and won the last meeting in the 2018 Midwest Regional, 11-3, in Springfield, Illinois.
