EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost hard fought game with Western Kentucky University, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 15-22, while WKU goes to 26-12.
The Screaming Eagles’ offense was stymied for the first seven innings, while WKU built a 2-0 lead on just two hits. The Hilltopper runs came courtesy of a home run in the second inning and a bases-loaded hit batter in in the fifth.
USI stayed in the game with good pitching from six different pitchers which blanked the Hilltoppers for seven of the nine frames and struck out eight hitters. USI junior right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) (0-4) started and took the loss for the Eagles, going two innings and allowing the second inning home run.
The Eagles made a run at WKU in the eighth inning, cutting the deficit to 2-1. USI junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) reached on an error and would score from first on a two-out double by senior designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas), who also took third on a second WKU error in the inning before being stranded to end the frame.
After a USI held the Hilltoppers in the top of the ninth, USI went three-up and three-down as WKU closed out the 2-1 final.
USI junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) led the Eagles at the plate with a three-for-four performance and was the only Eagle to have multiple hits. Thompson-Allen has a team-high 18 multi-hit games this season.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles continue the five-game homestand this weekend (April 19-20) with a three-game OVC series versus the University of Tennessee at Martin. The first pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 3 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
This weekend is USI Faculty/Staff Appreciation Weekend. USI faculty, staff, and their families will be admitted free to any game this weekend. USI employees need to bring a valid University faculty/staff ID to the entrance of the USI Baseball Field for the free entry.
In addition to USI Faculty Appreciation Weekend, Friday is West Side Nut Club Night at the USI Baseball Field.
The Skyhawks of UT Martin are 13-23 overall and 5-7 in the OVC after losing two of three at home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Eagles lead the all-time series with UTM, 7-5, despite losing two of three in their first season in the OVC last year.
