University of Southern Indiana senior right-hander Kyle Griffin (Morganfield, Kentucky) threw five dominating relief innings and senior leftfielder/first baseman Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) established a new single-season RBI record to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 12-inning upset victory over Bellarmine University, 9-7, in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. USI, the seventh seed, watched its record go to 33-21 overall, while Bellarmine, the second seed, ends game with a 37-18 mark.
The Eagles, with the win, advances to play the winner of the Northwood University-Ashland University game at 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Northwood, who is the third seed, and Ashland, who is the sixth seed, are slated to match-up in the 8:30 p.m. contest tonight.
USI opened regional play by exploding for five run in the first four frames of the game. McNamara ignited the scoring with a RBI-single to make the score, 1-0, and tie the USI single-season record for RBIs with his 70th of the season (Brad Vance had 70 RBIs during the Eagles’ 2010 national championship run.). Senior first baseman/pitcher Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) followed McNamara with a RBI-sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 2-0 after a half of an inning.
The margin was extended to 3-0 in the second on a RBI-single by junior second baseman Jacob Fleming(Evansville, Indiana). The Eagles reached the 5-0 mark in the top of the fourth when senior rightfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky) knocked in a pair of runners with a two-run single.
After the Knights got a tally in the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles bounced back to get the run back in the top of the fifth on a RBI-single by freshman centerfielder Bryce Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) to put the margin at 6-1. Bellarmine, however, responded with three runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead after seven.
Fleming would strike again in the top of the eighth when he knocked in freshman shortstop Ethan Hunter(Terre Haute, Indiana) with a RBI-ground out to knot the game at 7-7 and set the stage for the extra frames.
In the 12th, Hunter singled in senior third baseman Ben Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) with eventual game-winning run before McNamara sealed the victory with an RBI-double for his record-breaking 71st RBI of the season to give the Eagles a 9-7 lead.
Bellarmine, however, was not about to go quietly in the bottom of the 12th. The Knights loaded the bases with no-one out before Griffin set them down with a striking out and a double play to finish the game.
On the mound, Griffin (6-3) was dominating in five inning of relief work after coming in to start the eighth with the game tied, 7-7. He scattered two hits and two walks, while striking a staggering 10 batters.
USI senior right-hander Devin Williams (Evansville, Indiana) started the game for the Eagles and got the no-decision after going 4.1 innings. Williams, who allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out four, was followed to the mound by senior right-hander Nick Coudret (Newburgh, Indiana) and Gobert before the entrance of Griffin in the eighth.
Continuing coverage of Eagles baseball games this post-season can be found on GoUSIEagles.com. Watch Twitter, Facebook, and GoUSIEagles.com for any schedule changes due to weather.
