University of Southern Indiana Baseball senior rightfielder Manny Lopez hit a two-run home run to cap off a ninth inning rally to defeat Kentucky Wesleyan College, 6-5, Wednesday afternoon in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles go to 16-12 overall, while the Panthers end the afternoon 15-5.
The ninth inning rally for the Eagles started with a walk to senior shortstop Kobe Stephens, who walked and scored on a double by junior centerfielder Bryce Krizan to make the score, 5-3. Krizan also advanced to third on error.
Krizan scored on a throwing error to get the Eagles within one, 5-4, when junior second baseman Ethan Hunter stole second after walking. This set the stage for Lopez.
Lopez hit a 0-2 pitch over the left field wall to give the Eagles the 6-5 lead and eventual winning margin. The home run was Lopez’s team-best eighth of the season.
Kentucky Wesleyan took advantage of a pair of USI miscues in the third to score three times and built a 5-0 lead after four frames. The Eagles would cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth on a RBI-single by freshman first baseman Adam Wildeman and a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Michael Conner to trail 5-2.
Senior right-hander Jordan Kelly made his first career start for the Eagles and was able to control the Panthers for two innings before they struck for a trio of tallies, aided by the USI errors in the third. Kelly left the game after allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits and tied a career-high by striking out five batters.
Junior right-hander Bryce Stuteville picked up his first win as an Eagle in relief. Stuteville (1-0) threw four scoreless frames, allowing seven hits and striking out one to get the win.
USI senior right-hander Tyler Hagedorn posted a scoreless ninth to get his team-best fourth save of the season and tie an Eagle all-time record with his 86th career-appearance. The 86 appearances ties Trevor Leach, who set the mark between 2008 and 2011.
Hagedorn blanked the Panthers in the ninth on one hit, while striking out one.
