EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball junior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) capped off a comeback win with a walk-off single in the 11th to give the Screaming Eagles a 12-11 win over Oakland University Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI, which snapped a six-game losing streak, watched its record go to 6-9, while Oakland goes to 5-9.
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Ellis capped off the USI four-run 11th inning with an RBI-single off the right field wall, scoring freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) with the winning run.
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After Oakland had taken an 11-8 lead in the top of the 11th, USI rallied for a second time in three innings to get the win. Senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) started the rally with one out on a double to left field and was joined on base by senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) after being hit by a pitch.
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USI pulled to within one, 11-10, when junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) singled in Tachioka and McNew after both moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Ebest would score the tying run two batters later on a RBI-single by junior leftfielder Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana) and set the stage for Ellis’ game-winning hit.
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USI junior right-hander Caleb Meeks (Evansville, Indiana) picked up the win in relief. Meeks (2-1) pitched the 11th, allowing the three runs, one earned, on two hits and one walk, while striking out one.
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The marathon game started with USI taking a 5-1 first and a 6-2 lead after the first three frames. Oakland rallied to cut the margin to one with three in the fourth before tying the game with a single tally in the seventh and taking the lead with two in the eighth.
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USI rallied to send the game into extra frames with two runs in the ninth. Ellis and junior pinch runner Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) scored the runs in the ninth when Oakland allowed Tachioka to reach with a pair of errors with two outs.
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Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and Oakland conclude the three-game series Sunday with a noon first pitch.
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Following the Sunday’s three-game series conclusion, the Eagles hit the road Tuesday to visit Saint Louis University for a 3 p.m. contest (NEW START TIME). The Billikens are 10-3 in 2023 and have won 10-straight after losing three in a row to start the year.
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USI returns to the USI Baseball Field after the single game at SLU to host Southern Illinois University Wednesday. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. The Salukis, currently, are 6-10 after being swept by the University of Kentucky at home Sunday.
