The Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament came to an end for the 20th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team Friday as it fell to the University of Illinois Springfield, 7-1, Friday afternoon at U.S. Ballpark in Ozark, Missouri. USI, the top seed from the GLVC East Division, watched its record go to 32-19 overall, while Illinois Springfield, the third-seed from the GLVC East Division, goes to 32-20.

The Screaming Eagles must wait until Sunday night to receive word on an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament and the Midwest Regional. NCAA II Midwest Regional pairings are set to be announced Sunday night at 9 p.m. (CDT) on NCAA.com.

The Eagles struck first with a tally in the first inning when junior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) drove in junior rightfielder Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) with an RBI-single. USI would hold that lead until the fourth when Illinois Springfield pushed a pair of runs across the plate.

The Prairie Stars would add three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to insure the victory.

McNamara led the Eagle batters in the loss with three hits and the lone RBI. Gobert followed with a pair of hits and the lone tally.

On the mound, senior right-hander Colin Nowak (Carol Stream, Illinois) took the loss. Nowak (6-4) allowed four runs, two earned, on 10 hits and a walk, while striking out three in six-plus innings.

Senior right-hander Justin Watts (Bryan, Ohio) finished the game on the mound for the Eagles, throwing the final two innings. Watts gave up three runs on six hits, striking out one.

After five changes to the first pitch due to weather, the 20th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team could not overcome a four-run fifth by William Jewell College and was upset, 7-3, in the first round of the GLVC Tournament Thursday afternoon at U.S. Ballpark in Ozark, Missouri. USI, the top seed from the GLVC East Division, watched its record go to 32-18 overall, while William Jewell, the fourth-seed from the GLVC West Division, goes to 22-25.

With the loss, the Screaming Eagles move into the lower have of the bracket and will play an elimination game versus the University of Illinois Springfield Friday at 12:30 p.m. The Prairie Stars, the three-seed from the GLVC East, lost their opening game, 10-1, to Quincy University, the two-seed from the GLVC West.

William Jewell and USI, both, struck for a run in the opening frame with the Eagles scoring on a sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana). The game would remain tied 1-1 until the fifth inning when the Cardinals exploded for four runs to take a 5-1 lead. William Jewell would add a tally in the seventh up its lead to 6-1.

The Eagles rallied to cut the lead in the bottom half of the seventh when junior rightfielder Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) doubled in a run to cut the deficit to 6-2. Griggs would strike again for the Eagles in the ninth with an RBI-single to make the score 7-3 after William Jewell added an insurance run in the top half of the frame.

Gobert, senior designated hitter Jaylen Quarles (Indianapolis, Indiana), and sophomore catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) finished with two hits each in the game to lead the Eagle bats. Griggs also had a team-high two RBIs in the loss.

The USI outfield defense was outstanding in the game with Gobert and junior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) combining to throw three Cardinals out at the plate. McNamara and Gobert threw out back-to-back runners in the sixth.

USI senior right-hander Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Barnett (6-2) allowed five runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings, striking out three.

Barnett was followed to the mound by freshman right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) and sophomore left-hander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana). Hagedorn allowed one run on four hits in 1.1 innings, while Partain finished the game by allowing a run on two hits and a walk in 2.2 frames on the bump.

Aces Softball Completes 2017 Season

Aces Fall By A 6-1 Final To Loyola

 In the opening game of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, Loyola scored three runs in the first inning on their way to a 6-1 victory over the University of Evansville softball team on Thursday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium.

With the loss, the Purple Aces season comes to an end with a 20-33 mark.  League Newcomer of the Year Brittany Hay finished the season with a team-best .309 batting average while senior Hayli Scott finished at .302.  Morgan Florey wrapped up the campaign with 14 victories in the circle along with a 1.99 ERA and an MVC-best 194 strikeouts.

Florey also provided the power in the lineup, pacing the team with nine home runs and 32 RBI.  She was responsible for UE’s run on Thursday, going 1-3 while bringing home the Aces’ run in the contest.

Loyola wasted little time getting on the board as Katie Kasubke hit a home run to center field to give the Ramblers a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, the Aces showed that they were ready to fight back.  Brittany Hay hit a leadoff double before moving to third base on a Michal Luckett groundout.  Up next was Morgan Florey, who singled down the right field line to score Hay and get UE on the board.  Morgan Lambert also added a hit in the frame.

The score remained 3-1 until the top of the fifth when the Ramblers plated three more runs.  They loaded up the bases with one out and Kasubke drew a walk to add their fourth run of the game.  Jamie O’Brien also notched an RBI.

Evansville looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh as a pair of runners reached with two outs, but a groundout ended the game as the Ramblers took the 6-1 win.

Florey tossed all seven frames, allowing six runs, three earned, on six hits.  She fanned six Rambler batters.  Kiley Jones was the victor for Loyola, scattering six hits over her seven innings of work.