University of Southern Indiana Baseball dropped the opener of a four-game series at Maryville University, 6-2, Friday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri. The Screaming Eagles go to 4-11 overall and 2-7 in the GLVC, after today’s action, while Maryville is 7-7 overall, 5-2 GLVC.
USI struck first in the contest, getting a pair of runs in the top of the second. Freshman first baseman Adam Wildeman knocked in the first tally of the inning with a RBI-single to left center, driving in junior third baseman Michael Conner from third, to make the score, 1-0. Conner had doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a single by senior designated hitter Manny Lopez.
Senior catcher Wyatt Daly made the score 2-0 in the second when the Eagles successfully executed a squeeze play to score Lopez.
The Saints, however, would erase the Eagles’ advantage with six unanswered runs to take a 6-2 lead. Maryville tied the game with two in the bottom of the second; took the lead with two in the third; and sealed its victory with two in the fifth.
USI senior designated hitter Manny Lopez put the Eagles back into the scoring column in the ninth when he blasted his second home run of the season to finish out the scoring in the 6-3 loss.
On the mound, senior right-hander Austin Gossman picked up the loss for the Eagles. Gossman (2-3) allowed six runs, four earned, on eight hits and a walk, while tying a season-high with eight strikeouts.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Saints continue the four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader at Maryville. The twin bill has a tentative first pitch set for a new start time of noon.
