EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not hold onto an early 3-0 lead and fell to Lindenwood University, 9-4, Sunday at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 14-18 overall and 4-5 OVC, while Lindenwood goes to 10-21, 4-5 OVC.
USI junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) shifted the momentum early to the Screaming Eagles in the third inning. Crowden saved a run defensively in the top of third with a diving stop before leading off the bottom half of the frame with a single to start a three-run USI rally.
Crowden singled and scored along with senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) when sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) singled and advance to third on a two-base Lindenwood error. Niehaus would come the plate with the third run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana).
USI would hold the 3-0 lead until the top of the fifth when Lindenwood exploded for four runs on three hits and one Eagles’ error. The Lions’ bats would erupt for five more runs in the eighth inning to extend Lindenwood’s lead to 9-3.
The Eagles would get one of the runs back in the bottom of the ninth when junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) hit a bomb over the right field fence to close the gap to the final score of 9-4. The home run was Van Grieken’s second of the season.
On the mound, junior right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) started and took the loss. Morris (3-3) went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks.
