Late rally dooms Eagles at Belmont USI comes home this weekend, starts OVC play

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball allowed three runs in the eighth in falling to Belmont University, 6-3, Tuesday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. USI watched its record go to 7-14, while Belmont goes to 12-11.
 
The Screaming Eagles got off to a good start with a 1-0 lead in the third when junior leftfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) drove in senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) with a single to center. Kahre had moved into scoring position on a single and wild pitch. USI would hold onto the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth when the Bruins knotted the game at 1-1.
 
After Belmont took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, USI rebounded to tie the game in the top of the eighth with a pair of runs. The Eagles cut the deficit to 3-2 on a RBI-single by junior pinch hitter Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) and tied the game when junior rightfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) crossed the plate after junior second baseman Alex Archuleta (Evansville, Indiana) reached on an error.
 
The Bruins would decided the game in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three times to take a 6-3 lead on two walks, a hit batter, a hit, and a pair of USI errors. Eagles’ junior right-hander Cory Anderson (Linton, Indiana) took the loss in relief. Anderson (0-1) was charged for two runs on a walk and a hit batter without getting an out in the eighth.  
 
A bright spot on the mound for USI was sophomore right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana), who got the start and picked up the no decision. Morris struck out two in three scoreless frames, allowing a walk and a hit.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
USI opens Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend when it hosts Morehead State University for a three-game set. First pitch for the series opener Friday is 6 p.m.; continues Saturday with 2 p.m. contest; and concludes Sunday at noon.
 
Morehead is 10-10 after defeating Ohio University, 19-14, today at home. The Morehead Eagles snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win, but have lost 10 of the last 12 since starting the season 8-0.
 
USI and Morehead, which were predicted to place eighth and second in the OVC this season, are meeting for the first time in the history of the two programs in baseball.