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USI walks off in the seventh to earn series sweep over Tennessee Tech
USI walks off in the seventh to earn series sweep over Tennessee Tech
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball finished off its first series sweep of the season in walk-off fashion on Saturday at USI Softball Field, capturing a 4-3 victory over Tennessee Tech University in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Following two scoreless frames to begin Saturday’s series finale, Tennessee Tech (10-23, 4-8 OVC) struck first with an unearned run in the top of the third inning to grab an early 1-0 advantage.
Southern Indiana (9-17, 6-5 OVC) broke through and jumped in front in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore outfielder Kate Satkoski doubled down the left-field line to drive in a pair of runs and give USI a 2-1 lead.
Tennessee Tech answered back with two runs in the top of the fifth to regain a one-run lead, 3-2. However, the Screaming Eagles responded with an unearned run in the home half of the fifth to knot the game up at three.
With the game still even at three, USI got their chance in the bottom of the seventh. After a one-out walk, single, and hit-by-pitch, freshman designated player Grace Huffman stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. Huffman delivered by getting a ball airborne into deep left field, allowing sophomore infielder Sydney Long to score the game-winning run from third on a walk-off sac fly and completing the series sweep for the Screaming Eagles.
USI totaled seven hits at the plate Saturday. Freshman catcher Jordan Mackey, senior infielder Whitley Hunter, and Satkoski each recorded two hits in the game. Satkoski led Southern Indiana with the two RBIs.
In the pitching circle, senior pitcher Josie Newman (6-10) collected her second win and complete game of the series. Newman struck out eight and allowed three runs – two earned – in the seven innings of work.
Tennessee Tech, who had three hits offensively, had senior pitcher Payton Wagner make the start on Saturday. Wagner did not factor into the decision after starting the first 3.1 innings with two runs – one earned – given up. Junior pitcher Addison Abell (2-3) was charged with the loss after tossing the last 3.1 innings and also surrendering two runs – one earned – including the game-winning run.
The Screaming Eagles continue their homestand next weekend with a three-game set against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Ohio Valley Conference play. Next Saturday’s series opener is slated for 3 p.m. Sunday’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at Noon. Next weekend’s series will be USI Softball Alumni Weekend and Cancer Awareness Weekend.
More information and coverage links can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
Beacons rally to take series finale
Beacons rally to take series finale
UE back home next weekend
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Freshman Eliza Piggott went 3-4 with a 3-run home run, but a 7th inning rally by Valparaiso saw them defeat the University of Evansville softball team by a final of 8-7 on Saturday.
UE scored five runs in the top of the first, but the Beacons chipped away at the lead throughout the game and would finish with the walk-off win. Piggott led the Purple Aces with three of the team’s nine hits. Brooke Voss and Callie Meinel recorded two hits apiece. Meinel had a 2-run home run and three total RBI.
Evansville had a quick start, plating five runs in the top of the first. Keghan Pye hit a 1-out singles with Morgan Adams following with a walk. That brought Eliza Piggott to the plate, who came through with a 3-run home run. Callie Meinel added an RBI double while Miriah Powell scored on a wild pitch to cap the 5-run inning.
Valparaiso broke through with a 4-run bottom of the third to cut the deficit to one. They looked to add more before stranding two runners on base. Following scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, both teams scored twice in the sixth. Powell led off the top of the sixth with a walk to bring Meinel to the plate. Her 2-run shot pushed the lead back to three. The Beacons quickly responded, scoring two runs to get back within a single run heading to the seventh.
Hits by Jess Willsey and Brooke Voss saw the Aces load the bags in the top of the seventh before a strikeout ended the inning. Down to their final three outs, the Beacons rallied once again, scoring two runs to complete the comeback and take the win.
Kate Ridgway made the start, allowing four runs, three earned, in three innings. Gracie Hollingsworth gave up two runs in 2 1/3 inning while two unearned runs scored during the inning tossed by Sydney Weatherford, who was tagged with the loss. Cassidy Gall recorded the final out.
Next weekend, the Aces return home for a 3-game series versus Belmont.
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
Sixth inning rally sinks Aces baseball against Valparaiso
Trailblazers sweep series finale doubleheader at Illinois Central
Trailblazers sweep series finale doubleheader at Illinois Central
PEORIA, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference series strong Saturday afternoon at Illinois Central College in Peoria, Ill.
The Blazers took the doubleheader sweep over the Cougars 5-2 and 7-3 to pick up the series win at ICC.
Vincennes got off to a slow start Saturday afternoon with Illinois Central striking first and breaking the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the third in game one.
VU would get on the board in the fifth after a leadoff walk by sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) and sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) reached on a fielder’s choice.
Johnson came in to score the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) with Gross tying the game later in the inning by scoring on a wild pitch to even the score at 2-2.
VU would take their first lead of the day in the sixth after a leadoff single by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) being hit by pitch.
The pair moved up 90 feet with a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) before scoring on a two-RBI double by sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.).
Edlin would come around to score on a error by Illinois Central College to give the Blazers a 5-2 lead over the host Cougars.
The Trailblazers were able to fend off any late comeback attempts by the Cougars, ending the game defensively with a big double play to give the Blazers the 5-2 victory over Illinois Central College.
Freshman Eastin Whaley (Kokomo, Ind.) got the start for the Trailblazers in game one of the day, going the distance with a seven-inning complete game, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight, while only allowing one walk.
Whaley picked up steam as the game went along, facing the minimum over the final three innings to pick up the victory for the Blazers.
Vincennes looked to pick up the series victory and sweep the day in game two but once again found themselves playing from behind early after Illinois Central plated a run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
VU would get on the board in a big way to grab their first lead of the game in the fourth with a big five-run inning.
The Blazers opened the inning with the first five batters reaching base safely, with sophomore Corbin Napier scoring the first run of the game for VU on a Cougar error, before Bryce Gross came through with a two-RBI single to put the Blazers on top 3-2.
Bradyn Douglas picked up an RBI in the inning on a groundout and Nate Montgomery drove in the final run of the inning with a big two-out RBI single to give the Blazers a 5-1 lead.
Illinois Central would get a run back in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-2 before the Blazers answered back with a pair in the seventh.
Corbin Napier again led off the inning reaching base after being hit by pitch, followed by Noble Johnson reaching on a fielder’s choice to set up a two-RBI single by freshman Evan Doran (Indianapolis, Ind.) to increase the Blazer lead to 7-2.
Vincennes would hold onto this lead down the stretch of the game, with Illinois Central looking to complete a late comeback but were only able to get a run in the ninth as VU closed out the series finale over the Cougars 7-3 to sweep the daily doubleheader and take the four-game conference series over Illinois Central College three games to one.
Freshman Grayson Reichert (Shepherdsville, Ky.) got the start in game two for the Trailblazers, throwing into the sixth inning allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four.
Freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) was the only Trailblazers used out of the bullpen on the day, closing out the final four innings of the game, allowing one run on six hits and striking out three.
The Trailblazers will look to carry this momentum into their next slate of games as the Blazers hit the road Thursday, April 3 to take on Southwestern Illinois College in doubleheader action in Belleville, Ill. First pitch Thursday is set for 2 p.m. eastern.
Vincennes will then return home to Jerry Blemker Field Sunday, April 6 when the Blazers get a doubleheader rematch against the Blue Storm of Southwestern Illinois College, with first pitch Sunday set for 1 p.m. eastern.
BOX SCORE
GAME ONE
VU (14-17, 5-10) – 000 023 0 – 5
Illinois Central – 002 000 0 – 2
VINCENNES HITTING
2B – Edlin. RBI – Edlin 2, Douglas. HBP – Gricius, Napier. SB – Gross, Napier, Edlin. Sac Fly – Douglas.
GAME TWO
VU (15-17, 6-10) – 000 500 200 – 7
Illinois Central – 100 010 001 – 3
VINCENNES HITTING
RBI – Doran 2, Gross 2, Douglas, Montgomery, Johnson. HBP – Napier. SB – Johnson 2, Doran, Andrews, Edlin. Sac Bunt – Edlin.
-30-
The Vincennes University baseball team improves to 15-17 on the season, with a 6-10 record in MWAC Conference play.
Screaming Eagles rock Trojans, 10-0
Screaming Eagles rock Trojans, 10-0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana junior right-hander Blake Kimball and junior leftfielder Hunter Miller led the Screaming Eagles to a 10-0 victory Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 11-15 overall and 3-2 in the OVC after the second game of the series, while Little Rock goes to 10-17, 1-4 in the OVC.
Kimball (3-3) was dominating on the mound and posted his third win of the season. The junior right-hander threw eight scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while tying a season-high five strikeouts. The eight-shutout innings were the most by a USI starter since 2019 when Sammy Barnett threw a nine-inning shutout on the road at McKendree University.
Miller, who was a late substitution into the starting lineup due to an injury to sophomore second baseman Anthony Umbach, went five-for-five with two runs scored and two RBIs.
The Eagles took command of the game early with a five-run second inning to lead, 5-0. Junior catcher Micajah Wall and senior centerfielder Khi Holiday highlighted the frame with a two-run double and a two-run single, respectively.
The score would remain 5-0 until the seventh when Miller scored on an RBI double by sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd to give USI a 6-0 advantage. USI pushed the lead to 7-0 when Miller struck again, driving in junior first baseman Kannon Coakley with an RBI single.
USI finished the scoring in the eighth, posting three more runs, two coming on RBI singles by sophomore second baseman Parker Martin and Miller for the 10-0 final score.
At the plate as a team, USI had six players with two or more hits. Junior designed hitter Cole Kitchens‘ single in the second inning increased his hitting streak to a team-best 15 games.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Trojans conclude the series Sunday with a new start time of NOON. The first pitch was moved up due to the forecast of storms Sunday afternoon.
Due to the ever-changing weather in March, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X,
UE baseball begins the weekend with a 7-3 win over Valparaiso
UE baseball begins the weekend with a 7-3 win over Valparaiso
THUNDERBOLTS SHUT OUT 5-0 AT HUNTSVILLE
UE track and field begins outdoor season in Saint Louis
UE track and field begins outdoor season in Saint Louis
USI falls short in homestand opener, 2-1
USI falls short in homestand opener, 2-1
Game 2 of the series has been moved up to 11 a.m. Saturday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened its homestand with a disappointing 2-1 loss to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Friday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 10-15 overall and 2-2 in the OVC after the first game of the series, while Little Rock goes to 10-16, 1-3 in the OVC.
USI allowed two runs in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and walk in a very tight pitcher’s duel and spelled the difference in the contest. The score would remain 2-0 until the ninth inning when USI put up a final challenge of Little Rock.
The Screaming Eagles opened the final frame with a single by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens, who extended his team-best hitting streak to 14 games. Junior pinch runner Hunter Miller entered for Kitchens and advanced to second on a one-out walk to junior first baseman Kannon Coakley, who saw his hitting streak come to an end at 12 games.
After junior shortstop Clayton Slack flew out for the second out, USI got on the scoreboard with an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Parker Martin, scoring Miller with the Eagles’ lone tally. Little Rock would close out the contest with a strikeout of sophomore second baseman Anthony Umbach, stranding the tying and winning runs on base. For the game, USI stranded seven runners on the base paths.
On the mound, junior right Andres Gonzalez started and took the loss for the Eagles. Gonzalez (0-4) pitched the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
USI sophomore right-hand Abdriel Figueroa relieved effectively and kept the game close by matching a career-high 3.0 innings of work. Figueroa also struck out a career-best five Trojans in the outing.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Trojans continue the series Saturday at a new start time of 11 a.m. and conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.
Saturday’s game is Jersey Day at the USI Baseball Field. Fans wearing a jersey to the game will receive a free popcorn and will have a chance to win St. Louis Cardinals tickets in a sixth-inning drawing.
Due to the ever-changing weather in March, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X,