EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team hit four home runs and swept a doubleheader McKendree University, 16-2 and 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 24-17 overall and 11-7 in the GLVC, while McKendree ends the day 7-33, 2-15 GLVC.
USI and McKendree conclude the four-game series with noondoubleheader Sunday at the USI Baseball Field. Sunday also is Senior Day for the Eagles, who will honor its seven seniors – infielder Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana); infielder/pitcher Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana); pitcher Devin Williams (Evansville, Indiana); outfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky); pitcher Kyle Griffin (Morganfield, Kentucky); pitcher Nick Coudret(Newburgh, Indiana); and outfield/infielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana).
Game 1:Â
The Screaming Eagles hammered out 17 hits, including three home runs, in rolling by the Bearcats, 16-2, in the opening game. USI had an early 1-0 lead through five innings before scoring 15 times in its final three at-bats (seven in the sixth, one in the seventh, and seven in the eighth) to seal the victory.
Leading the USI hitters were junior designated hitter Jayden Beshears (Evansville, Indiana), senior third baseman Sam Griggs, and junior catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana). Beshears was three-for-four at the plate with two runs scored, a home run, and a team-high five RBIs.
Griggs and Logan were three-for-five with two runs scored, a home run, and three RBIs each. Senior leftfielder Drake McNamara and junior second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana) also had a pair of RBIs in the victory.
On the mound, junior right-hander Austin Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) posted his first victory since March 2 and five-straight no-decisions. Krizan (2-2) allowed two runs on 10 hits and two walks, while striking out six in eight innings of work.
Junior right-hander Ryan Gulledge (Evansville, Indiana) worked a scoreless ninth inning, setting down the final three batters after loading the bases.
Game 2:Â
USI senior third baseman Sam Griggs completed an unassisted double-play to preserve a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. Griggs snagged a liner with one out and dove to third base to get the potential tying run and end the McKendree rally in the final frame of the seven-inning game two.
After the Eagles and the Bearcats battled to a scoreless draw through three-and-a-half innings, senior first baseman/pitcher Nick Gobert hit his first home run of the season to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
McKendree tied the game in the top of the fifth before USI rallied to take the lead for good with a three-run bottom half of the frame. Junior second baseman Jacob Fleming ignited the game-winning rally with an RBI-double off the left field fence.
Senior leftfielder/first baseman Drake McNamara followed with a double to left center to score Fleming to give USI a 3-1 advantage. McNamara would cross the plate with the eventual game-winning run when Gobert reached on an error.
The Bearcats scored once in the sixth and seventh and had the tying run on third to set the stage for Griggs’ heroics.
USI senior right-hander Nick Coudret (Newburgh, Indiana) picked up the win in relief, while Gobert closed out the game for his second save of the game. Coudret (4-2), who moves into a tie for the team-lead with four wins, allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in 1.2 innings. Gobert closed out the seventh, getting the final two outs for the save.
Senior right-hander Devin Williams (Evansville, Indiana) started and got the no-decision after going the first 4.2 innings. Williams allowed one run on six hits, while striking out one.
